Category: The Book Fort

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, and The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende for the Classics Club Spin #9.

         

Finished:  Quilt, Book, and Bard by Bryna Chalmer.  I won’t be reviewing it, but I will say that I only gave it 2 stars on Goodreads because it was an exercise in frustration.  I also finished The Essential Feminist Reader, and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

  

Challenges:

• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: 3 out of 4.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 14 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 22 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I put Storm Front on the “borrowed from a friend” square, and Quilt, Book, and Bard on the “debut author” square.

Total pages read for the week: 400 pages, the last 83% of Good Omens, and the remaining 46% of the podiobook.

Total number of books for the year: 23.  Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon helped me get quite a lot of reading done.  It also made me feel hungover most of Sunday and in need of detoxing.  I didn’t have any caffeine on Sunday.  Instead, I drank peppermint tea and lemon water, and I tried to stay away from sugar as much as possible.  It’s not a party unless you feel like crap the next day, though, right?  I had a blast and can’t wait until October.  Most of this week is going to be insanely busy for me as I wrap up the semester.  My last day of class is next Monday.  I’m greatly looking forward to next Monday.

Top Commenters: This week, I just want to give a great shout out and round of applause to all the cheerleaders for the readathon! 🙂

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende for the Classics Club Spin #9, Quilt, Book, and Bard by Bryna Chalmer, and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

                

Finished: Storm Front by Jim Butcher.

Challenges:

• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: 2 out of 4.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 14 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 19 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I haven’t decided where to put Storm Front yet.

Total pages read for the week: 455 pages, 17% of Good Omens, and 54% of the podiobook.

Total number of books for the year: 20.  Why did I start 3 more books?!  Well, Quilt, Book, and Bard is a podiobook, and I decided to start reading Good Omens for no real reason other than I wanted to, but I started Storm Front thanks to the Boyfriend, who is a huge fan of The Dresden Files series.  I bought him the latest book in the series as part of his Christmas present last year, and he finally got around to reading it.  As long as he and I have been together, I’ve never seen him devour a book so quickly, with so much enthusiasm.  Despite a full night’s sleep and having to work, he managed to finish the book in a day.  I just knew I had to find out if I would enjoy the series, too. It’s amazing enough for me to have finished the book within a couple days, despite life and all the other books I’m currently reading.  I already have a bookmark in the next book, Fool Moon, but I’m waiting until I’ve written the review for Storm Front before I start reading it.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Shaina at Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, and The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende for the Classics Club Spin #9.

         

Finished: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, which I reviewed on Saturday.

  

Challenges:

• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: 1 out of 4.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 14 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 18 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I put Ender’s Game on the “Aliens” square.

Total pages read for the week: 366

Total number of books for the year: 19.  I’m slowly chipping away at the books I’ve been reading for months.  I’ll never be a one-book-at-a-time gal, but I’d like to finish all those books I started back in January or February before I forget what was going on with the characters.  Unfortunately, that means I’m getting further behind on my review books.  I need a TARDIS.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Berls at Fantasy is More Fun.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

        

Finished: The Prince of Hazel and Oak by John Lenahan and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  I’ll be reviewing both some time this week.

  

Challenges:

• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: 1 out of 4.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 13 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 17 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I put The Prince of Hazel and Oak on the “2nd in a series” square.

Total pages read for the week: 474

Total number of books for the year: 18.  I’m behind on my review books again, mostly due to school.  I had an exam and one of my two 20 page research papers to finish.  I’m also still looking for a part-time job, but I took a much needed break to relax.  The strange part is that my relaxation included catching up on emails, chores, and errands, in addition to reading.  After finishing The Prince of Hazel and Oak, I started another podiobook on my way to school, but it was horrible.  The narrator sounded like he was reading an instructional manual and his character voices sounded like amateur Renaissance fair actors.  It was so bad that I’m not even going to mention the title, because the book might be decent enough to read for some.  I just couldn’t handle the podiobook version.  I asked the world of Twitter for suggestions, but while I waited, and since I already had Ender’s Game on my phone, I decided to listen to it instead of continuing to suffer.  I also have a physical copy of the book, so I’m going to try alternating back and forth between listening and reading.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenters were Berls at Fantasy is More Fun, and Shaina at Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Prince of Hazel and Oak by John Lenahan.

       

Challenges:

• Take Control of Your TBR Pile Progress: I’ve met my goal!
• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: Prince of Hazel and Oak is the only book I’m currently reading that counts for this challenge.  I’m expecting to have it finished before the end of the week.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 12 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 15 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I’m working on filling in the whole card, and it’s getting a bit more difficult.

Total pages read for the week: 489

Total number of books for the year: 16.  I’m back into the swing of going to classes and working on my research papers, but I’ve added looking for a part-time job into my already busy schedule, so I haven’t had much time to read.  Also, it was the Boyfriend’s Birthday this weekend.  Besides the holidays, it’s the only day of the year that I don’t mind not getting at least a little time to read.  When I did get time (other than during my commute), I concentrated on The Essential Feminist Reader, since it’s due back at the library soon, and I really want to at least get to the ’90s, when I was first introduced to Feminism by way of the Riot Grrrl bands.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Berls over at Fantasy is More Fun.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, and The Essential Feminist Reader.

      

Finished: Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and Buan: The Perfect Mortals by Reece Bridger.

 

Challenges:

• Take Control of Your TBR Pile Progress: I’ve met my goal!
• Once Upon a Time IX Progress: This just started on Saturday, and none of my current reads count.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 12 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 15 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I’m working on filling in the whole card, and it’s getting a bit more difficult.

Total pages read for the week: 832

Total number of books for the year: 16.  Spring Break is over, and despite hurting my back and being stuck on the couch, I didn’t get as much reading done as I thought I would.  I also didn’t finish most of my current reads.  That’s ok, though.  I watched a lot of TV, and I read a book that had nothing to do with most of my challenges.  It was a recommendation from Erika at Book Punks.  Anyway, my mind wasn’t in the right place to read critically, and I just wanted something to enjoy while I wasn’t able to go anywhere or do much of anything.  Stardust was that book.  I won’t be reviewing it because I deliberately didn’t take any notes or do any thinking about it after I finished it.  I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars on Goodreads, and that’s all that matters.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Shaina from Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?  Do you have any go-to books when you’re sick or injured?

Currently Reading: Buan: The Perfect Mortals by Reece Bridger, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, and The Essential Feminist Reader.

      

Finished: Shadowmagic by John Lenahan, The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer, and The Gift of Charms by Julia Suzuki, all of which I’ll be reviewing sometime this week, along with Nightfall Gardens by Allen Houston, which I was supposed to review last week.

  

Challenges:

• Take Control of Your TBR Pile Progress: I’ve read 3 books towards my goal of 4.
• Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 11 out of 51.
• Outdo Yourself Progress: 13 out of 66.
• Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7 out of 50.
• SF/F Bingo: I’m working on filling in the whole card, and it’s starting to get a bit more difficult.  I had to do some rearranging in order to get the squares I have marked now, but I haven’t decided yet which square I’m going to put The Gift of Charms on.  The obvious one would be “Dragons”, but then I would have to move The Sunken by S.C. Green.

Total pages read for the week: 586

Total number of books for the year: 15.  It’s Spring Break for me, and I hurt my back on Sunday, so I’ve got a lot of time on my hands for reading.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to finish all of my current reads, or at least most of them, by the end of the week.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Shaina from Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Gift of Charms by Julia Suzuki, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Shadowmagic by John Lenahan, which I listen to during my commute to and from school.

      

Finished: Nightfall Gardens by Allen Houston, which I’ll be reviewing sometime this week.

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Progress: 1

Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 9 

Outdo Yourself Progress: 10

Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7

SF/F Bingo: I’m working on filling in the whole card.  I haven’t decided which squares The Burning Land by Victoria Strauss and Nightfall Gardens will be placed on, and I might have to do some major rearranging.

Total pages read for the week: 486

Total number of books for the year: 12.  I’m still on schedule, despite the insanity of the past week.  I’m still feeling exhausted.  I’ve got Midterms this week and then I’m kicking off Spring Break with a weekend meditation retreat, so I don’t know how much reading I’ll get done.  I plan on finishing Shadowmagic and The Gift of Charms, though.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenters were Julie from Chapter Break and Shaina from Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: Nightfall Gardens by Allen Houston, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Shadowmagic by John Lenahan, which I listen to during my commute to and from school.

      

Finished: The Burning Land by Victoria Strauss, which I’ll be reviewing sometime this week.

Winter 2014-2015 COYER Progress:  I’ve hit my goal of 10 books, and participated in 2 read-a-thons towards my goal of 3.  I’ve been keeping up with the Facebook group, and I did a mini-challenge.

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Progress: This challenge just started yesterday.

Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 8 

Outdo Yourself Progress: 9

Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 7

SF/F Bingo: Since I’ve already finished this challenge, I’m working on filling in the whole card.  I haven’t decided which square The Burning Land will be placed on, but I’m thinking “new to me author”.

Total pages read for the week: 659

Total number of books for the year: 11.  I’m back on schedule, for now.  I’ve got another 3 papers to write and an exam on Friday, and then I’ll be getting into Midterms week before going to a weekend meditation retreat as Spring Break starts.  I’m exhausted, and trying not to have a meltdown.  Everything feels like work and all I want to do is sit on the couch in my PJs with a bottle of wine and some chocolate and binge watch everything on Netflix.  Even gaming feels like too much productivity to me right now.  I’m really enjoying Shadowmagic though, and it has greatly improved my commute.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Shaina from Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?

Currently Reading: The Burning Land by Victoria Strauss, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for The Classics Club, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, and The Essential Feminist Reader.

     

Finished: Those Rosy Hours at Mazandaran by Marion Grace Woolley, which I’ll be reviewing on Wednesday.

Winter 2014-2015 COYER Progress:  I’ve read 9 books towards my goal of 10, and participated in 2 read-a-thons towards my goal of 3.  I’ve been keeping up with the Facebook group, and I did a mini-challenge.

Show Your Shelves Some Love Progress: 7 

Outdo Yourself Progress: 8

Netgalley/Edelweiss Progress: 6

SF/F Bingo: Since I’ve already finished this challenge, I’m working on filling in the whole card.

Total pages read for the week: 376

Total number of books for the year: 10.  I’m still a little bit behind schedule.  I had 3 papers to write this week, and I’m busy writing 2 more that are due by Friday, so I’m not likely to finish my one remaining review book for the month before the 28th.  I’m hoping I’ll finish it by March 6th, though, since it’s the last book I need to meet my goal for COYER.

Top Commenters: This week, my Top Commenter was Shaina from Shaina Reads.

What are you reading this week?