S'up?

I've been soooo neglectful lately of my blog.  I'm reading, but I haven't been keeping up with reviews or other blogs like I should.  I've been working a lot, and... I've been watching a lot of HLN and following the Jodi Arias case because I am a trial junkie and I can no longer deny it. The downside is that this trial has been going on for months now, and even though it's in the penalty phase, it's still being drawn out. 

But as of today, and thru the rest of this month, I will be posting something book related EVERY DAY!  It's okay, you can be impressed. ;) Consider it a countdown to my BEA trip, when I get to hang with so many of you bookish lovelies!!

So, I'm sort of doing Bout of Books, although my goals have gone out the window.  Here's what I'm reading: 

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, which is amazing! 

I'm listening to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  I'm going to be featuring it as part of my Book STD feature, which you have to check out.  There's a giveaway and only 2 entries so far!  All you have to do is review a book that a friend made you read, or feature a book you want everyone in the world to read.  This will be a monthly giveaway.

This week I need to pack for BEA, because a week from tomorrow I head to New York!! I'm taking my very first train trip, so I'm very excited about it (let's ignore the train accident that happened up North recently, okay?). 

I'm also turning 36 this month, on May 22nd.  I am less excited about this, but I do love birthdays. 

So, dear ones, what is up with you? 

Bout of Books: I Feel the Need, the Need to Read!

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 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 

- From the Bout of Books team

 I'm in!  Here are my goals:

Finish Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Finish The Name of the Wind (audio) by Patrick Rothfuss

Read a Christopher Pike book, make an update/link post for my challenge

Read at least 1 book off my TBR shelf.

Cull my bookshelves so I have room for all the BEA goodness I will be bringing home in June.

Update all my challenges

Write a review a day

Schedule posts for when I'll be at BEA

Figure out the BEA app for my phone  I finally figured it out!
And LOTS of commenting!  I've been a slacker for months!

Basically, just kick book ass all week long! ;) 

 

Bout of Books Readathon 1.7.13- 1.13.13

You know I can't resist a readathon!  Plus, I haven't done one since last year.

Lame joke, I know, but it's still free to read my blog. ;)

Since it doesn't start until the 7th, there's still plenty of time to sign up at Bout of Books.

I'll be using the template to keep track of what I read and some of my goals: 

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading all week.

My Goals

• read 4-5 books and 1 audio book.
• comment every day
• be awesome(er)
• seriously, send off Witch World for Christopher Pike to sign!!

Books to Read

• Finish Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
• Finish The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
• Finish The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Cruisie (audio book)
• Start Amber House by Kelly Moore (audio book)
• The Trouble With Flirting by Claire LeZebnik *received from ARC tour*
• Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) by Lauren DeStefano*received from ARC tour*

Alternates:

• Everneath by Brodi Ashton
• Seed by Ania Ahlborn

Try to start: 

• Paper Valentine by Brenna Yavonoff
• Shadowlands by Kate Brian
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: Finished 1, Continued 1, and Started 1
Total number of books I've read: 1
Books: Finished the audio book for The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie (the last 2 and 1/2 hrs), read from Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (154 pgs) and started the audio book The Amber House (35 mins)
Challenges: Scientific Discovery by The Book Barbies (and now I have that Barbie Girl song by Aqua in my head!)

 You have made a scientific discovery (who knew you were so good at science?!) on how to bring fictional characters to life. The problem? The method still isn't *perfect,* so you can only bring two people to life, and they must return to the land of fiction in 30 days. Who will you choose as your bestie and your love interest for that one splendid month? (Feel free to add pictures if you like, but they are not required.)

My Answer: This is a hard one.  Would the characters have their bookish qualities?  Because if so, I'd choose Alice Cullen as my BFF so that she could turn me into a vampire that never needs to sleep and then I would READ ALL THE BOOKS.  All of them!

But, I'm going to go with these choices instead (even though it will lead to immediate regret and recrimination after I read everyone else's choices):

Bestie: Jane from Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper.  She and I could hang out making witty observations about everyone and everything around us.  And I'd invite my real life besties to hang out too, because they all love Jane. And she would make us laugh and laugh.  I'd have to take her out the book after she gets fired but before she gets hit my the drunk driver, so that she'll want to drink a lot, but alcohol instead of blood.  She's just someone I'd want to know, and a month would be a good enough time, because eventually I'd grow to resent not be the funny one anymore.

Love Interest: I could go with Mr. Darcy, but if I only have a month, then I need someone who isn't going to take a year to court my ass.  And I can't pick Odd Thomas, because as much as I love him, I have no wish to do the horizontal hokey pokey with him.  And I can't pick too many of the hotties from YA because I'm 35 and I don't want to go to jail.  So because I've got Les Mis on the brain, I'll take Enjolras from  Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I've had a thing for him since I saw the I musical in high school.  Marius is a hottie too, but he's so whiny about Cosette and if he can't appreciate a awesome woman like Eponine, then screw Marius! I can't remember Enjolras' description in the book, but he's always played by a hottie on the stage and screen, he doesn't have a girlfriend he already is obsessed with, and he's about to die in a bloody revolution so I'm sure I can get him to focus some of that passionate energy he's been putting into freeing the oppressed in France to my bedroom.  I speak enough french to get the message through: Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

I also really enjoyed the Bout of Books twitter chat!  So much fun, blogger pals!

Tuesday

Number of books I've read today: 1- Under the Never Sky
Total number of books I've read: Completed 2 books
Books: Under the Never Sky and The Cinderella Deal, started Amber House

Wednesday

Number of books I've read today: Nothing finished, but read a bit of Scorpio Races and listened to over 2 hours of Amber House- loving both of them!
Total number of books I've read: Still just the two.
Books: see previous entries.

Thursday

Number of books I've read today:  2, read The Scorpio Races and At Home in Mitford (which I'm reading to one of my clients)


Friday

Number of books I've read today: 2, finished The Scorpio Races, started The Trouble with Flirting
Total number of books I've read: Finished 3 books, started 3
Books: see top list.

Saturday

Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Sunday

Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Bout of Books: Goals and Update Post

So it's that time again, a week long readathon hosted by Bout of Books.  Just the thing I need to make up for all the reading I didn't do on vacation.

Here's some of the books I hope to get to:

A Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (this is a re-read)

Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Plus hoping to make some more progress on the audio book Criminal by Karin Slaughter.

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading all week.

My Goals

• To read five books and make progress on audio book
• write 10 reviews
• comment on every bout of books participant at least once
• have a real presence on Twitter (I've been lazy about commenting and connecting since BEA, and there's no excuse- bad Midnight Book Girl, bad!)

Books to Read

• A Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (this is a re-read)
  Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon
  The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
  Origin by Jessica Khoury
  Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 1/4th of a book
Total number of books I've read: see above answer
Books: 103 pages in Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon
Challenge: From Reading in Texas and  The Space Between comes this first challenge, simply tell what happens to your books after you read them.
My Answer: I usually keep them.  Sure, I'll lend them to friends and family, but I'm a book hoarder.  Occasionally I'll donate a large pile to Goodwill or the take some to a senior assisted living home, and I trade some on PaperBackSwap, but mostly I keep them.  I'm a re-reader, I like to re-visit old friends.  I get easily attached to books.  And of course, I also buy lots of ebooks too, so of course I keep those (and I don't have to feel guilty about that!).  I did sign up for BookCrossing and I'm going to give it a try just because it sounds cool and I looked, no one in my town has released any books in the Go Hunting section, so now I have to!

Tuesday
Number of books I've read today: read from one, listened to another on audio.
Total number of books I've read: still haven't finished one.
Books: Let the Devil Sleep and Criminal.
Challenge: Relocate! Hosted by The Grammarian's Review:  Use your current read. Now relocate the characters! How does this change the story?
My Answer: I'm reading Let the Devil Sleep which takes place in the Northeast, and right now the cold weather is acting as an atmosphere for the book. So, I'm taking the characters to...
Hawaii!  Retired NYPD officer Dave Gurney is now having to deal with the Good Shepard killer who instead of targeting rich Mercedes drivers in the past, will now have hunted down rich boat owners.  Gurney's injuries from the previous book are still bothering him, but the sunshine and tourists make his ill temper even worse.  I can see his NY attitude really being put to test by calmer, more laid back Hawaii 5.0. ;)

Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: Finished 1, listened to part of another
Total number of books I've read: Just one.
Books: Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon.  Still listening to Criminal by Karin Slaughter.
Challenge: Word Search at The Musings of Almybnenr!

Thursday
Number of books I've read today: Reading 3, all in progress
Total number of books I've read: Still only finished one
Books: Read from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal
Challenges: Candy by Booksmartie.  She's asking whether we snack while we read (to which I said that I don't really eat while I read, but I sometimes read while I eat.  Meaning that I like to eat out by myself, but I always read while doing so.  My favorite places to do this are Panera, Starbucks and IHOP.  So other than full on meals, I don't do much eating and reading, but I do love curling up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate).

Friday
Number of books I've read today: Reading 3, all still in progress
Total number of books I've read: Yup, still just the one read completely.  I suck.
Books: Read from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal

Saturday
Number of books I've read today: Still reading 3 at once.
Total number of books I've read: 1, which is the loneliest number... in a Readathon
Books Still reading from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal

Sunday
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

*Goal post template provided by Bout of Books

Bout of Books Readathon

Yes, I have signed up for another week long Readathon!  Mostly because there's several books I want to read prior to BEA.  This will be both my starting post and my update page, and once the readathon starts, I'll make this a sticky post.  Please join me, just click on the picture above or right here.  I've never done a Bout of Books Readathon before, so I'm excited to meet some new bloggers!

My Goals


Read some TBR books that I really need to get to!
Catch up on a fraction of reviews that I need to write.
Schedule posts for when I'm in New York.


Books To Read


The Chaperone (for review)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (for book club on the 19th)
Insurgent (finish)

Matched
The Fault in Our Stars
Deadly Cool
Finish Envy (Empty Coffins #1) since it got pushed aside for the Veronica Roth series 
Finish A Storm of Swords *at least get to 60% on my Kindle!
Listen to the audio of I Hunt Killers


Challenges

5.14.12 Bookish Questions from Sarah Says Read
“What do you like best about readathons? Do you have any readathon traditions or rituals? If this is your first readathon, what do you like so far? Discuss away!”
 
 5.16.12 Re-Title It Challenge from Books Devoured.

Old Title: Dirty Little Secrets

New Title: Window Peeper

 














Okay, what I like most about participating in Readathons is the sense of community.  Reading is normally such a solitary hobby, but during Readathons I end up connecting with other readers through blogs or Twitter and I love that.  I don't know that I have any rituals per se, other than for Dewey's Readathon where I spend a long time finding the perfect books for my reading stack.  But that's mostly because Dewey's is a 24 hour Readathon, so I need books that can keep me awake and reading.  Week long Readathons are a bit more relaxed, so I can read books I need to get to or want to get to for a specific goal- in this case a review book, a book club book and some books I want to read for BEA.  This is my first Bout of Books Readathon, but I assure you it won't be my last!  I love that Readathons really push me to use my spare time reading, instead of vegging out in front of the tv or playing on the computer. I even have plans to possibly host my own Readathon this summer... we'll see!


5/18/2012
Today's challenge is hosted by The Reading Housewives of Indiana!
The challenge today was to pick out some shoes that either match a book cover, or that a character from the book would wear.  I chose 2 books:

I've had Night Circus on the brain lately.  Partly because it's been a long time since I've loved a book the way I love The Night Circus and a recent re-read only strengthened my love for it.  Honestly, my plan to not look like a tourist in New York when I go to BEA is to dress up like I'm going to the Night Circus.

So for Celia:

And then I wanted to do something kind of Steampunkish, but I don't read that much Steampunk.  But then I remembered Soulless- which I love a million red m&m's, and found the perfect boots for the well dressed, and flamboyant vampire, Lord Akeldama:









Updates


5/14
Number of books I’ve read today: Almost finished The Chaperone and listened to a little over an hour of I Hunt Killers audio.
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Books: The Chaperone and I Hunt Killers
Pages:  259 pages of the Chaperone, 1hr 10 mins of I Hunt Killers.

5/15
Number of books I’ve read today: 2 and started Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Total number of books I’ve read: 2
Books: Finished The Chaperone, read all of Deadly Cool, started Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Pages: 59 pages of The Chaperone, 303 pages of Deadly Cool, 15 pages of Abraham Lincoln, and 1 hour of I Hunt Killers.


5/16
Number of books I’ve read today:4
Total number of books I’ve read: Finished 2, read 1 in full.
Books: Finished Envy, listened to more of I Hunt Killers, and continued reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter... and Fifty Shades Freed (hey, no judging!)

Pages: 118 if Envy, 87 pages of Abraham Lincoln, an hour of I Hunt Killers and about 14%  of Fifty Shades Freed (seriously, stop judging! The books were a gift from the Hubs, it would be rude not to read them!)


5/17
Number of books I’ve read today: Read from 2, none finished.
Total number of books I’ve read: Finished 2, read 1 in full.
Books: Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter and I Hunt Killers.
Pages: 223 pages in Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter, an hour of I Hunt Killers on audio.


5/18
Number of books I’ve read today: Read from 3, Finished 1.
Total number of books I’ve read: Finished 2, read 2 in full
Books: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Insurgent and I Hunt Killers on audio.


5/19
Number of books I’ve read today:
Total number of books I’ve read:
Books:


5/20
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books: