Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 1

Published on by Rachelle

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

I’ve survived the first 8 hours of Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

I should not set goals more often!  So far, I’ve read three times as much as I did by this time during the last readathon.  That may be due to me reading a graphic novel, but I think I’ve also gotten better at finishing up online stuff faster and more efficiently so I can get back to reading.  As far as donations go, I’m up to $2 ($1 for every 100 pages or 1 book read, whichever is greater).  I’ve also done some cheerleading, and I’m about to do some more 🙂

Until my 2nd update, at 11 pm, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks

Whether you’re participating in the read-a-thon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Cover Escape Mini-Challenge

Published on by Rachelle

Audra @ Unabridged Chick has challenged those of us participating in Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon to find a book with a cover we would love to escape to and away from where we’re at now.

Lisey's Story

I chose the cover of Lisey’s Story by Stephen King.  I understand that most people living anywhere that isn’t Texas won’t understand how anyone could possibly want to escape to all that snow, but it’s still getting up into the mid to high 90s here in Austin!  Also, I’m not a native, and I was born during the Winter in a considerably colder locale (Japan).  I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the Texas heat, no matter how long I live in the South.  It’s been over four years now, and I’m not convinced I’m acclimated yet.  Plus, I miss snow!!!  I also miss all the wintry stuff that I used to wear and do when I was a kid staying at my grandparent’s house in Wisconsin.  Yeah, I know, shoveling is back-breaking work that no one wants to do, and the salt on the roads slowly destroys cars but forget about all that grown up stuff.  If you’ve ever built a snow fort, snowman, or created an angel in the snow, remember how much fun you had, and the taste of hot chocolate and peppermint sticks, and the smell of pine trees and that crisp cold air.  Don’t even get me started on Christmas!  *sigh*

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon – #ReadingForACause

Published on by Rachelle

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon has officially started!  I prepped my coffee maker last night, so all I had to do when I got up at 6:30 am was turn it on, make my breakfast (yogurt and a bagel with butter), and get my browser ready to go with all my readathon related sites.  I’ve been running off a readathon excitement high since Thursday, and I created a reading “Fort” in my living room with the help of the Boyfriend!

2015-10-17 06.45.13 2015-10-17 06.52.55

  • What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m in Austin, TX.
  • Which book in your stack are you looking forward to the most? The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff.
  • Which snack are you looking forward to the most? Pretzel sticks and jalepeño cheese dip.
  • Tell us a little something about yourself!  Here are 20 somethings about myself.  Also, I love Dinosaurs.  RAWR!
  • If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?  I don’t have a reading goal this time around, but I am reading along a theme.  I’ve also added a graphic novel to my stack of books.  I’m not new to graphic novels and comics, but it’s been a long time and I’ve never read any for a readathon.  Also, I’m donating $1 for every 100 pages OR 1 book I read during the readathon to Pencils of Promise.  It’s not much, but it’s all I can afford right now.  If you would like to support me in fundraising, please consider matching my donation.

Halloween Reading

Here’s my Halloween-themed book list:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks
  • The Sandman, Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman

My first update will be at 3 pm.  Even though I don’t have a reading goal, I’ll still be tracking how many pages I read and any books I finish so that I, and all of you, know how much money I’m donating to Pencils of Promise.  I’ll also include mini-challenges I’ve accepted, 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?  Would you consider helping me out to raise money for Pencils of Promise?

 

The Joy Luck Club Read-Along: Week 6 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Joy

Welcome to the 6th weekly recap of The Joy Luck Club read-along!  Next Saturday, Oct. 24th, I will be posting a review of the whole book.

This week, we read two chapters, each about one of the mothers.  I don’t like Ying-ying St. Clair.  Out of all the mothers, I think she’s the worst.

[Spoilers] I think she was a spoiled brat as a child, and though she doesn’t say that outright, she does admit to being very vain.  I want to feel sympathy for her that her first husband was a horrible man and abandoned her to run off with some other woman.  I want to cry for her that she aborted her baby.  However, I don’t feel anything for her except dislike.  I don’t hate her.  I just think she’s a sour emotionless woman that doesn’t care about anyone and is only full of negativity about everything.  I feel the opposite for An-mei Hsu: “…I was raised the Chinese way: I was taught to desire nothing, to swallow other people’s misery, to eat my own bitterness.”   She at least understands how she tried to raise her daughter differently, but she only has the tools that she learned from her mother, who learned them from her mother, etc.  Reading her words about how Rose turned out the same way despite her efforts gave me space and permission to forgive my mother and my grandmother.  While I know now that forgiveness doesn’t mean I have to allow either of them to be in my life, it does mean I can let go of the anger and confusion.  At least some of it anyway.  I know it’s a work in progress.  While I don’t know for sure if An-mei knows how close Rose was to ending her life as An-mei’s mother did, perhaps she does suspect it.  I think An-mei is the wisest about her daughter than any of the other mothers are about theirs.  [End Spoilers]

What do you think of Ying-ying?  An-mei?  Comment away!  Just be sure to mark clearly any spoilers 🙂

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon begins tomorrow, at 7 am CST, but I wanted to share with all of you what I’ll be doing.

First off, the books.  Since I’m also participating in RIP X, my reading will be Horror-themed.  I’ll switch back and forth between books on the list as needed:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks

This time around, I don’t care so much about how many books I finish.  I just want to relax and have a good time.  I also signed up as a cheerleader, so for me this readathon is more about socializing and participating in mini-challenges than it is about how many books and pages I read.  I’ll still provide that information in my updates, which will be every 8 hours after my kick-off post.  Along with the books I’ve finished and the number of pages I’ve read, I’ll include any mini-challenges I’ve participated in, along with other tidbits such as music or snacks.

Are you participating in Dewey’s Readathon?  If so, what books do you have planned to read?  Leave a comment, and include your link if you have a “goals” post!

 

Thursday’s Things #11: Halloween Edition

Published on by Rachelle
1001 Things
                Original Image: Viktor Hertz

As promised, here’s the second “Thursday’s Things” post for this month.  All of the links are related to Halloween, Horror, or Gothic literature in some way.

#FitReaders Check-In #41

Published on by Rachelle
Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for October 5th – 11th.
  • I didn’t meet my step or distance goal, but I still managed to get more steps than I did the previous week and I finally met my active minutes goal!
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Yoga Workouts: 0/5
  • Steps: 44,306/63,000
  • Miles: 18.21/21
  • Flights of stairs: 163/70
  • Active Minutes: 216/210
  • Total Money Donated: $27.91

Monday’s Minutes #41

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.

  • The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan – for the read-along.
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling – for the HP re-read.
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Joy Goblet Eleanor and Park Witching 

Finished: Doll Bones by Holly Black and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  I’ll review both of these before the end of the month.

Doll Bones Frankenstein

DNF: The Magic Shop by Justin Swapp.  I tried.  I did.  I’ll write a DNF review before the end of the month.

Magic Shop

Challenges:

S&S Bingo2update13

Total pages read: 644

Total # of books for the year: 69. Though I’m not counting it towards any of my reading challenges, or even my total number of books read for the year, I’m reading the short story, “The Wendigo” by Algernon Blackwood.  I found out about the story from Litha Nelle’s Mini Macabre Review Monday post.  I knew that Wendigos originated from Native American folklore, and I’ve seen the episode about the frightening creature on “Supernatural”, but I had no idea there was also a Classic short story about it.  I’m also adding Pet Sematary by Stephen King to my wishlist since the creature shows up in the one famous King book I’ve never read.  I doubt I’ll get to it this year, but I hope to read it next October.

What are you reading this week?

The Joy Luck Club Read-Along: Week 5 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Joy

Welcome to the 5th weekly recap of The Joy Luck Club read-along!  Below is the schedule.  Each Saturday I’ll post a recap (with clearly marked spoilers for those who get a little behind).  The final review of the book will be on Saturday, October 24th.

This week, we read three chapters, each about one of the daughters.  So many feelings.  I’m not exactly sure where to start…

[Spoilers] So I’ll begin with Waverly Jong and her mom, Lindo.  “You don’t know my mother,” I said.  She never thinks anybody is good enough for anything.”  I was right there with Waverly until she and Lindo come to some bizarre understanding of each other.  I feel that, had I read this a few years ago, I would have believed that my mom and I had had one of those moments, and everything was better afterward.  We didn’t and it wasn’t, and so I’m skeptical about Waverly and Lindo having a better mother-daughter relationship.  I don’t think that much emotional damage and negativity can be fixed so easily.  I’m happy that Rose is finally taking back control of her life.  I know what it’s like to be in a relationship in which one person slowly gives up control of the decisions little bit by little bit until the other person is making all the choices.  My Ex came to see it as his right to decide on things without consulting me.  When I finally woke up to reality, my life was in shambles, and I don’t even know when he stopped caring.  It was a long process to put everything back together again, but, like Rose, it was exhilarating to be back in the driver’s seat.  I think Jing-mei has a long way to go before she comes into her own and gains back her self-esteem.  The hurtful words that come out of Waverly’s mouth during the Chinese New Year dinner make me like her a little less, but I can’t help think she learned her spitefulness from her mother.  [End Spoilers]

What do you think?  Comment away!  Just be sure to mark clearly any spoilers 🙂

Classics Club: Mary Poppins

Published on by Rachelle

Mary Poppins

  • Author: P.L. Travers

I checked out the audiobook edition from my university’s library.  I had wanted to read Mary Poppins for years.  I thought it would become a new favorite since I loved the Disney adaptation so much.  What happened is that my belief in Disney’s inability to stick to the original story has been reaffirmed.  Mary Poppins is not the sweetheart she is portrayed to be by Julie Andrews.  She’s often cranky, taciturn, extremely vain, and sometimes downright mean to the children in her care.

Mary Poppins isn’t the only character that gave me pause.  There is a scene where a mother and owner of a bakery literally breaks off her fingers to give to Jane and Micheal’s younger siblings to chew.  While it turns out her fingers are a different baked good each time, I couldn’t get over the creepiness of it.  She’s also emotionally abusive towards her two daughters and I’m not sure how her screaming at them about every little thing was supposed to be amusing.

Each chapter of the book brought a new level of bizarre to my ears.  I was repeatedly shocked that this was, and still is, considered to be one of the best children’s stories of all time.  While it certainly wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, I won’t be bothering to read any more of the series.  I’ll stick with the Disney film, thank you.