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.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

  

Finished:

  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

 
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 572
Total # of books for the year: 42 of 85.  COYER Summer started on Saturday and in just a few days my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge will start as well.  Until both are over, I won’t be reading any of the books I haven’t finished by today, except for The Count of Monte Cristo because I’m determined to finish that beast before I forget what I’ve already read.  Instead, I’ll be reading off of my reading list, and that means nothing but Science Fiction until September 🙂
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #1

Published on by Rachelle

Image: hjl

I saw one of BrenhinesBooks Down the TBR Hole posts and thought, “What a neat idea!”  It 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 every week until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  I currently have 584 books on my to-read shelf, but I’m sure there are several books I already own that haven’t made it onto the list yet, and I know several of the books I’ve stacked on Litsy aren’t on my Goodreads.  So, the mountain may get larger before it diminishes.

This week’s five books:


Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor – KEEP.  This is a definite keeper since I’ve read and loved the first two books.
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen – KEEP. I already own this as an ebook and the synopsis is still interesting enough to not send it to the archive unread.
The First Pillar by Roy Huff – KEEP.  This is another one I already own as an ebook and am still interested in reading at some point.
Prisoner of the Daleks by Trevor Baxendale – KEEP.  I’m very much a Whovian, and David Tennant is one of my fave Doctors.
The Slitheen Excursion by Simon Guerrier – KEEP.  See above.  Enough said.
I’m not even going to list the next 5 books because they are all Doctor Who, and I’m keeping them.  It’s the same with the next 15 on the list.  Apparently, I went a little Doctor Who crazy on Goodreads when I discovered there were books 🙂 So, my to-read shelf remains at 584 books and I’ll be starting off next week with book #26.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

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  • This check-in is for June 9th – 15th.
  • I’m almost finished with Stage 2 of the Appalachian Trail on Walking 4 Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 28,134/70,000
  • Miles: 11.56/35
  • Total Miles: 230.27
  • Active Minutes: 23/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.31/$10.00

Mondays 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.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
  • The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

  
  
 
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 426
Total # of books for the year: 40 of 85. I told myself I wasn’t going to start any new books so I would hopefully finish all or at least most of the ones I’m currently reading before the start of my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge.  But then I saw “Wonder Woman” on Saturday and went on a binge of Wonder Woman books.  Not only did I get The Secret History of Wonder Woman, but I also picked up a sticker book and two volumes of Wonder Woman comics.  I immediately started reading The Secret History of Wonder Woman while I ate an almond croissant and drank a chai latte in the café of the bookstore.  It’s the only book I want to read right now because it’s so interesting.  The only other book I might finish this week is The Miniaturist, and that’s only because I can’t read while driving.
What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

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  • This check-in is for June 2nd – 8th.
  • My focus is shifting to something I haven’t been paying enough attention to lately: how much sleep I’m getting.  More specifically, how much deep sleep I’m getting.  I discovered I’m only getting about half the amount of deep sleep I need.  It’s the same with my REM sleep.  This could be an explanation for why I tend to take long naps during the weekend; my body is trying to catch up.
  • What I don’t understand about this is that I practice good sleep hygiene.  I go to bed and get up at about the same time every day.  I keep the bedroom dark, cool, and electronics free.  I shut off or put away all of my electronics more than an hour before I go to bed.  I don’t eat anything three hours before bed.  I use melatonin, and I usually drink a cup of chamomile or Sleepy Time tea a couple hours before I go to sleep.  I’m not sure what else to try.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 23,707/70,000
  • Miles: 9.73/35
  • Total Miles: 218.71
  • Active Minutes: 50/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.22/$10.00

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.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

  
 
Finished:

  • Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 457
Total # of books for the year: 40 of 85.  The Count of Monte Cristo has gotten much more interesting this week.  However, Pack A Book’s next book, The Miniaturist, was only available as an audiobook through my library, so I’m taking a break from The Count of Monte Cristo to listen to that.  I seriously need to stop starting new books and buckle down to finish the one’s I’m in the middle of so I can hopefully start my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge fresh.
What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for May 26th – June 1st.
  • I LOVE Habitica (Habit RPG)!  I’m already at Level 9 and I’ve collected several pets and pieces of gear.
  • I also love Walking4Fun.  My FitBit syncs with my profile and I can see how far along the Appalachian Trail I’ve gone when I log in to my account on the website.   Each section of the trail has pictures, a trail diary, and maps.  There’s also a public section to write your own comments, and another section to see all your stats.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 20,349/70,000
  • Miles: 8.35/35
  • Total Miles: 208.98
  • Active Minutes: 43/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.14/$10.00

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.

Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

  
Finished:

  • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
  • Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead

 

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 398

Total # of books for the year: 39 of 85. Ugh, The Count of Monte Cristo is so boring!  That might be because I’ve been in more of a “cheap paperback” kind of mood than a “Classic Lit” one lately.  Hence my devouring of Succubus Heat in less than a week.  Actually, most of it was consumed on Saturday while I listened to a playlist of Nine Inch Nails, Kate Bush, and Placebo (you’ll understand why if you’ve read the book), sipped on a café mocha, and nibbled on an almond croissant.

What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for May 19th – 25th.
  • I started using Habitica (also known as Habit RPG) to help get me in the habit of exercising and a few other activities.
  • I also started the Appalachian Trail on Walking4Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 22,284/70,000
  • Miles: 9.16/35
  • Total Miles: 200.63/1779
  • Active Minutes: 62/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.12/$10.00

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.

Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace

  
Finished:

  • Abarat by Clive Barker
  • Brain Rules by John Medina

 

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 809.  I would have finished A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again if I hadn’t discovered that Amazon started delivering groceries to my area.  I saved so much time and energy, and while I still read, I stuck with my physical books instead of audio.

Total # of books for the year: 37 of 85.

What are you reading this week?