Tag: mini-challenge

Bout of Books 15 Mini-Challenge: Would You Rather?

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Bout of Books

Lori @ Writing My Own Fairy Tale has challenged those of us participating in Bout of Books to a game of Bookish “Would You Rather?”  Below are the questions and my responses.

Would you rather…

  • Lend books to someone who dog-ears pages or to someone who reads with cheesy Cheetos fingers?  I’d much rather lend books to someone who dog-ears pages than someone who eats Cheetos while they read.  Why?  Cheetos stains never come off the page.  I know this from experience.  I purchased a used book awhile back, and while I was reading it, it became apparent that the previous owner was a lover of the orange powdered covered snack.  *Sigh* maybe someday I’ll be able to find a better copy.
  • Be able to meet one character of your choice or meet one author of your choice?  Usually, I would rather meet a favorite character than an author, but I think I’d prefer meeting Diana Gabaldon.  After all, Jamie Fraser will always belong to Claire, and I’ve got my own Scot to snuggle.
  • Never be allowed in a bookstore again or never be allowed in a library again?  I’ll take the library over the bookstore any day.  Libraries are free, and this is the 2nd year I’m participating in the Show Your Shelves Some Love Challenge, so I can’t buy any books anyway.
  • Have to choose one of your favorite characters to die in their book or have to pick one of your favorite couples to break up in their book?  I’d rather have a favorite couple break up than have any of my favorite characters die; unless the break up causes so much heartache the character(s) die anyway.
  • Be required to read Twilight once a year for the rest of your life or The Scarlet Letter once a year for the rest of your life?  The Scarlet Letter hands down.  I’ve read Twilight, and I once started The Scarlet Letter but got distracted by another book.  Being a classic, I think The Scarlet Letter would stand frequent re-reads much better than Twilight.

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

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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*

Bout of Books 14: Road Trip Challenge

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Stephanie @ Steph in Wonderland has challenged those of us participating in Bout of Books to come up with four to five States or places we would like to go and books that are set there.

As I’ve said before, I love traveling.  I’ve been to more places internationally than I have within the US, though.  So, I’m going to stick to places in the US for this challenge (Book covers are linked to Goodreads).

Boston: The Good City edited by Emily Hiestand and Ande ZellmanGood City

Hawai’i: Hawai’i’s Story by Lili’uokalani HawaiiI lived in Hawai’i for several years at a couple different points during my childhood.  Even though I was taught quite a bit of the history, I know it was watered down.  However, I absolutely loved the Polynesian Cultural Center.  I would love to go back to the islands, as well as get a more in-depth history.

Maine: A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich

Maine

New York: The World in a City by Joseph Berger

New York

New Orleans: The Missing by Tim Gatreaux

Missing

I recently mentioned that I’ll be going to New Orleans with The Boyfriend for our second anniversary.  I’m looking for more book recommendations, so if you have any, leave a comment.

Bout of Books Mini-Challenge: Cover Color

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Bout of Books
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal.  For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, please visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

 

Tressa @ Wishful Endings has challenged us to come up with four books of ours that have covers with the same color or colors.  I chose to go with sky blue:

2015-05-15 11.50.38

  • Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
  • The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
  • So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Dresden decided he wanted to help me.  Either that or he felt an urge to check out the So You Want to be a Wizard book.  His namesake is a wizard, after all.

Bout of Books Mini-Challenge: Bookish Survey

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Bout of Books
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal.  It is a week long read-a-thon that begins May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team
Today’s mini-challenge, a Bookish Survey, is from Lori @ Writing My Own Fairy Tale.

 

The Questions: 

1. How do you organize your shelves?  I organize my shelves by hardcover to mass market paperback and by height.  So, my tallest hardcovers are on the left side of the top shelf and my shortest paperbacks are on the bottom shelf (I have a lot so they’ve got their own shelf)  I try to keep books by an author together, but sometimes that’s impossible, and I also keep series together as long as I own them in the same size/type of book.
2. What is one of your favorite books that isn’t in one of your favorite genres?  I don’t have one; every single one of my favorite books has come from my favorite genres.
3. What is the last five-star book you read? The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.
4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon? I really want to finish The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon.
5. What book do you recommend the most?  That greatly depends on who I’m recommending a book to.  Sometimes it’s Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, other times it’s The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, still other times it’s The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

#Readathon Mini-Challenge: Mid-Event Survey

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Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?

The Essential Feminist Reader
2. How many books have you read so far?

This is my 2nd book, but I only read 2 chapters from my first book, The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I’m really hoping I get to The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

I haven’t really had any interruptions, except when the Boyfriend brought me my favorite Chinese food, but I have had a lot of distractions like #readathon on Twitter.
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

The constant flow of Tweets!

#Readathon Mini-Challenge: A Hobbit Themed Party

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Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_BellezzaYes, I’ve already written about the Hobbit today for another Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon mini-challenge, but I just couldn’t stop my brain from coming up with all sorts of Hobbit-themed party ideas when I read Christina’s mini-challenge over at Christina Writes.

My Hobbit party would consist of the following:

  • Food and Drink:
  1. Waybread Blueberry Tarts (as found in the Unofficial Hobbit Handbook by The Shire Collective)
  2. Tea
  3. Scones
  4. Various Breads
  5. Jam
  6. Meat and Fruit Pies
  7. Various Cheeses
  8. Ale
  9. Wine
  10. Smaug the Golden Cocktail
  • Activities:
  1. Hobbit Trivia Game
  2. Viewing of all three Hobbit films
  3. Middle Earth Cosplay Contest
  • Party Favors:
  1. Hobbit bookmarks
  2. Handkerchiefs
  3. Large “hairy” plastic or rubber spiders for stabbing
  4. Books of riddles
  5. Pocket sized Middle Earth maps
  6. Small Treasure Boxes for storing the items listed above

#Readathon Mini-Challenge: Classic Words of Wisdom

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Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

 

Allie over at A Literary Odyssey has challenged all of us participating in Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon to share our favorite words of wisdom from Classic literature.  Being a lover of the Classics, as well as a member of the Classics Club, I’ve got plenty of them, but one of my all time favorite quotes comes from my all time favorite book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”

This bit of wisdom can be applied to just about everything as I’ve made my way through the past decade of my life.  When I decided to not re-enlist in the Army, I had no idea what I wanted to do instead, besides finish college.  I didn’t even know what I wanted my major to be; I just knew I didn’t want it to be what it was at the time.  I stumbled across a former passion of mine, and, after some research, chose International Relations as my major, but I didn’t have a clue what university I wanted to attend.  I stumbled again, and found Texas State, even though I had never intended on staying in Texas after I go out of the military.  It has ended up being the best university for me, and I’ve discovered new friends, and new interests, and have had a lot of great experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.  I also discovered that, even though I’m still interested in Humanitarian aid work specifically, and International Relations in general, what truly makes me happy is doing anything book related.  Books have always been my true love, but it wasn’t until I started reading some book blogs and then stumbled across the 24 in 48 Read-a-thon that got me started on my own blog, that I found out there are so many more book related jobs than I ever imagined.  I’m now on a crazy meandering path towards a fulfilling career, and that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for all the finding of things I hadn’t been looking for.

Bout of Books: Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt

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Stefani @ Caught Read Handed is hosting one of the first mini-challenges for Bout of Books 12, and it’s a Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt!  Below is the list of items, with the one’s I found in bold, and pics of the books linked to Goodreads:

Find a book with the following criteria on a bookshelf:
1. Find an author with the same initials as you
2. Find a book with the color yellow on it
3. Find an author’s name with the letter “S” in it
4. Find a book with a female protagonist
5. Find the longest book you own
6. Find a book with a map in it or on it
7. Find a book with a face on it (photograph or illustrated)
Bonus: Find something on your shelf that isn’t a book.

Penumbra Historian Girl

 

Hobbit Max

First Editions Mini-Challenge

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From The Blue Stocking Society:

“Take your current readathon book, find the copyright page, and attempt to identify its edition. Bonus points for posting a picture of the copyright page…”

Mine is The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket, and it’s the 3rd edition or printing:

2014-04-26 17.19.24