Tag: Summer

#COYER – Summer Reading List

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COYER

Yeah! It’s almost time for #COYER Summer!  They’re doing things a bit differently this year, and I’ve decided to join in on the fun that is the Summer Reading List.

Summary of the Rules (check out the sign-up page to see all of the details.)

  1. The challenge starts on June 17th and ends September 8th. This is roughly at the same time as my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge, so I’ll be reading pretty much nothing but Science Fiction.
  2. Books can be in any format: Ebook, Physical, Audio, Library, Borrowed, etc.
  3. You must pick 30 books for the Summer Reading List (you do NOT have to read all 30 books).  Once COYER starts the list can’t be changed. For every 5 books read, 5 more can be added to the list.
  4. There will be 3 readathons.  During a readathon, only books from the list can be read.

Readathon Dates:

  • June 25th – July 2nd: Only ebooks
  • July 23rd – July 30th: Only physical books
  • August 20th – August 27th: Only audio and ebooks

My Summer Reading List

  1. Doctor Who: The Taking of Chelsea 426 by David Llewellyn
  2. Doctor Who: The Eyeless by Lance Parkin
  3. Doctor Who: Wooden Heart by Martin Day
  4. Doctor Who: Sick Building by Paul Magrs
  5. Mad Tinker’s Daughter by J.S. Morin #3
  6. Doctor Who: Lights Out by Holly Black #4
  7. Curiosity Quills: Chronology by J.R. Rain
  8. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
  9. Steampunk: Extraordinary Tales of Victorian Futurism by Mike Ashley
  10. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
  11. Doctor Who: The King’s Dragon by Una McCormack #5- Adding Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler #6
  12. Doctor Who: The Deviant Strain by Justin Richards
  13. Doctor Who: Only Human by Gareth Roberts
  14. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
  15. Maybe the Moon by Armistead Maupin
  16. True Calling by Siobhan Davis
  17. The Gemini Effect by Chuck Grossart
  18. The Undays of Aralias Lyons by K.L. Horvath
  19. The Time Traders by Andre Norton
  20. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
  21. The Einstein Prophecy by Robert Masello
  22. Doctor Who: Engines of War by George Mann
  23. Sword & Laser Anthology ed. by Veronica Belmont
  24. Out of Time by Monique Martin
  25. Doctor Who: Dead of Winter by James Goss
  26. Planet Urth by Jennifer Martucci
  27. Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl
  28. The Circle by Dave Eggers #2
  29. The Man in the High Castle by  Philip K. Dick #1
  30. Ghost Ship by Diane Carey #7

Let the Challenge Begin!

Published on by Rachelle3 Comments

SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

Starting today, June 20th, and running until September 21st (the day before the Autumnal Equinox), is the Sci-Fi Summer Reading Challenge!

If you haven’t signed up yet, the link-up is at the bottom.  You can link up your reviews HERE.

Here are the challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 5 books
  • Viper Pilot – 6 to 10 books
  • Jedi – 11 to 15 books
  • Time Lord – 16 or more books

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Link up your sign-up posts below:

The sign-up will remain open until September 14th, a week before the challenge ends.

#COYER Summer Vacation!

Published on by Rachelle4 Comments

COYER Summer

The COYER Summer Vacation reading challenge is from June 18th to September 2nd, and I’ll be participating!  The lovely hosts of COYER have decided to throw out the rules and allow ANY book, regardless of price or format.  I’m super excited about this because during most of the challenge, I’ll be hosting my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge, and a large chunk of the Science Fiction titles I own are physical editions, which is what I want to concentrate on clearing from my TBR mountain since I’m also participating in the Shelf Love reading challenge.  That’s THREE awesome challenges!

Since the rules for COYER have been tossed like hot potatoes for the Summer, I’m not setting any goals.  I’m just going to read as much as I can, mostly Sci-Fi, but also a few of my ARCs that have publication dates between June and September.  This is going to be a wonderful Summer! 🙂

Are you participating in the COYER Summer Vacation reading challenge?

Sci-Fi Summer Reading Challenge

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

There’s Sci-Fi November, and Vintage Sci-Fi January, but for me, the Summer is the time of year that is best for reading Science Fiction.  I don’t know why.  Do you think I make the rules of when I read certain genres or books?  Oh…wait…I do.  Or maybe my cat Dresden does?  He seems to be Lord and Master of the rest of my life, so it stands to reason that he does.  Regardless,  from June 20th, the official first day of Summer, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox), I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible.  I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me.

Since I’d like to make this a legitimate annual reading challenge, below are the levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 5 books
  • Viper Pilot – 6 to 10 books
  • Jedi – 11 to 15 books
  • Time Lord – 16 or more books

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.  On June 20th, I’ll post the link up for your reviews, and it will stay open until September 25th.

Are you up to the Science Fiction Summer challenge?  Link up your sign-up posts below:

 

The sign-up will remain open until September 14th, a week before the challenge ends.

 

Library Social

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Summer Library Challenge

I checked Facebook for the Austin Public Library, and sure enough they have a page.  While looking at a few of the most recent posts, I learned something new: in addition to e-books, digital comic books and graphic novels are also available!

I don’t currently have Twitter simply because I find it to be a gigantic rabbit hole to nowhere satisfying.  I wouldn’t even be on Facebook anymore if it weren’t for the ability to create interest lists so that I never have to use the News Feed.

I also checked Youtube, but there were only a few videos and none of them looked even remotely interesting.  At least there is the decent, frequently updated Facebook page.

Summer Library Challenge Survey

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Summer Library Challenge

Library Survey

1. What’s the name of your library and how close is it to where you live?

     Austin Public Library.  The closest branch to where I live is about 3 miles away.

2. How frequently do you go to the library?

     Today was my first visit since I moved to Austin.

3. What is the first section you normally go to when you get to the library?

     Usually, in any library, I go straight for whichever section has the book(s) I looked up beforehand.  That’s usually Fiction.

4. Share a link to your library’s web page. How often do you use it and what for?

     Austin Public Library

     So far, I’ve only used this website to look up the address of the nearest branch, but typically I use a library’s website to search for the books I want to read before I head out to the library.

5. Does your library have a summer reading program for your age group? Do you participate and why or why not?

     Yes!  I was a bit surprised to find out there is a Summer Reading Program for Adults.  It started June 1st, and runs until the end of August, and for every five books I read, I can enter to win prizes.  I will be participating.

6. What is one thing you can think of that would make your library better?

     The hours they’re open.  Every branch is closed two days a week, and at least two other days of the week it’s only open for a few hours.

7. What programs have you attended or thought of attending at your library?

     I considered joining one of the many book clubs, but none of them grabbed my interest.  The majority of the other programs are either for kids or writers.

8. What is the best thing about your library?

     The “Virtual Library”, the library’s downloadable materials section.  Since the hours are limited, I’ll probably be “checking out” more e-books than physical books from the local branch.

Summer Library Challenge!

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Summer Library Challenge

I’m getting started on this late (Kick off was June 1st), but I decided to go ahead and sign up since I recently moved and haven’t been to the local branch of my city’s public library.  I figure this will be a great way to get acquainted with it!

My goals for this challenge are simple: get to know my library.  That means I will not only be visiting my local branch and getting a new library card, but I will also figure out where everything is, play around on the website, learn what resources are available, such as inter-library loans and e-book availability, as well as making sure I understand whatever particular policies there are (late fees, check out limits, etc.).  I will also look for my book club’s selection for July to see if it’s available and then check it out if it is.  I’m also going to do everything I can to catch up with the challenge so far, and I plan on posting about everything I do within the realm of the challenge.  I may or may not post pictures.  We’ll see….

My reason for keeping things simple is due to my very recent job change.  I’ve posted before about how unhappy I was with my previous job, and so the update on that is I was able to find a better job with a higher wage and more benefits!  I’m in training right now, but my schedule will change after I’m done and so I just don’t know how much time I will have to devote to all things books.  I’m really hoping that once I get more settled into a routine I will have more reading time as well as more time to add new “features” to this blog.  I have quite a few ideas!  I’m also welcome to suggestions of what you would like to see, so feel free to comment to your heart’s content! 🙂