Monday, October 28, 2013

TBR Pile 2014 Challenge


 

 
 
I'm Signing Up
 
 This challenge is for those of us who love books. We love them so much. We have hundred of books we would like to get around to reading but, never seem to make time for. It's time to tackle our TBR pile. If your interested in joining just click the link above.

My Goal 
50+ Books ( Married with Children)

I will slowly be working on a group of books I plan on reading for thechallenge.

A few books I'm thinking about 

3678952 
This was a Christmas gift from my mother in law. It is the 14th book in the series. I don't like reading out of sequence. If I read this it will add 14 books to my TBR pile.
 
7933292 
 
This book is a gift I received from my husband and children. I want to read it I just haven't made the time. 
 
 
 
 A Few Others

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Sunday, October 13, 2013

Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon Day 4






WWReadathon
I love challenges and I have been looking forward to participating in this one for a while. I was suppose to have a free weekend starting Thursday after work, the first day of the read-a-thon. It hasn't worked out that way. It has been a busy weekend. I haven't read as much as I would like.

These are the books I finished
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I really enjoyed both books.I hope I get more reading done before the end on the RAT.
Book I'm reading now
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Challenges
Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-thon–Acrostic Challenge!

Unbelievable
Nasty laws
Weapons
Ignorant people
Neglect
Death

 If you would like to participate you have until the 18th to sign up. Wonderfully Wicked Read-A-Thon

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon Last Post

dewey 
I had a blast joining Dewey's read-a-thon. I had a lot of unexpected interruptions but, I got to enjoy a day of reading, with a little blogging and playing thrown in.

  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 22
  2.  Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I really enjoyed Unwind by Neal Shusterman today.
  3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?I can't think of anything.
  4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I think everything is great.
  5. How many books did you read?2
  6. What were the names of the books you read?Unwind by Neal Shusterman and Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
  7. Which book did you enjoy most?The Blood Rites had a lot a laughs. It helped while I was tired.
  8. Which did you enjoy least? I Read 10 pages in to Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams. I tired and knew I wouldn't be able to considerate on the strange words and names.
  9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?No I think they were great.
  10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?I intend to participate next time. I enjoy reading but I would like to visit other sights more. Maybe I'll sign up for a little cheer leading next time.
Lets see how I did with my goals
My Goals
  1. 4 books. I only read 2
  2. 1100 pages. I got 721 pages read
  3. Visit 50 blogs during read-a-thon. I think its closer to 30. I didn't keep track.
  4. Read 40 minutes out of every hour. I have no idea  how many minutes I read. I was side tracked by visitors. They ate up 3.5 hours. I could have been blogging or reading during that time.
Next read-a-thon I plan on being better prepared. I also plan to change the way I read and blog during the challenge. 
I hope you all join in the next time.  

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Dewey 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

dewey 
It is finally here and I am Excited! Already having issues with my computer. It could also be because it is 5am in the morning. I was planning on having this post pre written last night. I got to busy and here I am blogging while half asleep.
My Goals
  1. 4 books
  2. 1100 pages
  3. Visit 50 blogs during read-a-thon
  4. Read 40 minutes out of every hour
Start up Questions
 1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? 
I live in a small town in Eastern Oregon. Not Quite 2000 people.

 2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? 
World War Z. I have had it in on my TBR list for a while. The movie made me want to start reading it.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?  
Right now food does not sound good. Cereal maybe.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
 This is my second Dewey Read-a-thon. I loved the last one. It was my very first read-a-thon.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? 
I don't know that I would do anything different. Although I might be saying that because I'm not fully awake. I loved everything about the last challenge.

Lets Get Started
Start 5am
I'm reading
764347 Started it a few days ago. I have been to busy to get past page 10.

6am
Pages Read-27
Challenge-Pick a song that would go with your book
7am
Pages Read-70
8am
Pages Read-108 
9am
Pages Read-161
10:39am
Food-Cereal
Pages Read -175
I got my hair done
11:00am
Pages Read-183
Food-Tea and a chicken kabob
Challenge-Choose a paragraph from your book and create a mad lib.
Original Paragraph. Page 27. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

 Risa's head is slammed against the window as the bus suddenly pulls to the right to avoid the two kids. The bus fills with gasps and screams, and Risa is thrown forward, down the aisle, as the bus comes to a sudden stop.


New paragraph
 My 8 year old son helped me

Isaiah's head runs against the runs as the pencil suddenly pulls to the right to avoid the five cars. The person fills with gasps and screams, and Kaitlyn plays forward, down the truck, as the van comes to a sudden stop.

Noon
Pages Read-214
1pm
Pages Read  224
I had an unexpected visitors. I finally had the house to myself and next thing I know I have my aunt and grandma visiting. I lucked out thought, they had to be someplace soon. Otherwise, I would not be reading for a great many hours.
2:00pm
Pages read 272
I did pretty good this last hour. I'm getting a little hungry though. I hope to finish my book the next hour. 
Challenge-Share a book trailer
I chose this trailer for The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. My daughter has been talking about the release of this books since Mark of Athena came out. I still haven't read this series.

3:00pm 
Pages read 315
Challenge Self-Portrait
Not the greatest portrait of me
6:31pm
Pages Read 343

We never get unexpected visitors but, today I had two more people stop by. I will not be making all my goals.
I'm done with Unwind and I am reading

11
Mid-Event Survey
 1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
I don't feel tired. I just have had a lot of unexpected visitors and I haven't gotten to read the last 3 hours .

2) What have you finished reading?
I finished reading Unwind by Neal Shusterman

3) What is your favorite read so far?
Unwind. I'm only 15 pages into Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

4) What about your favorite snacks?
Gummy Sharks

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
I haven't had the time to look. I think I will have to look after the event.

Hour 13 Challenge 
 Best book of your reading year, Best YA book of your reading year, and Best fantasy book of your reading year
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Falling Kingdoms is my favorite read this year. I loved it. It made me laugh, cry, and want to through the book across the room. The people in the story were so real. I felt like I knew them.
Dark Triumph is my best YA read. Falling Kingdoms was my first. I liked this book better then the first in the series, which is weird. I loved the main character. You could understand her. This book made you think about how parents actions can greatly influence their children.
The Host is my best fantasy read. I put off reading The Host because I didn't think the twilight book were all that great. I loved this one. I thought it was wonderful and it really made you think.
Best Book of Your Reading Year

Hour 14 Challenge
Audio Dream Date
99383 
Read by
 
Best Book of Your Reading Year
Best Book of Your Reading Year
Best Book of Your Reading Year
I think it would be interesting to have the actor playing the part read the book.
7:00
Pages Read 343
I have been getting caught up in my challenges 
8:00pm
Pages Read  371
I was to tired to read Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. I decided to start
99383

9:00pm
Pages Read 414
I'm tired but, I'm really enjoying Blood Rites.
10:00pm
Pages Read  448
I'm so tired. I think I'll get back to my book.
11:00pm
Pages Read 484 
12:00am
Pages Read 527
I'm really tired. My goal now is to finish Blood Rites. I hope I make it.
1:00am
Pages Read 566 
I'm not as tired but, I notice my desire to participate in challenges has greatly declined. 
2:00am
Pages Read  616
3:00am
Pages Read 649 
4:00am
Pages Read 391
Looks like I will finish my second book.

I hope everyone is having fun and enjoying this RAT.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon




WWReadathon


I will be participating in the Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon. This will be the first time I have participated in this challenge. Read-a-Thons have become my new addiction. If you would like to participate in this read-a-thon you have until the 18th to sign up. Wonderfully Wicked Read-A-Thon

My  Goals for this Challenge
  1.  Read 1 book a day. Four books on Saturday during Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. 13 books total
  2. Visit every blog participating
  3. Compete in all challenges.
  4. Work on my TBR pile. 
  5. Add more books to my TBR Pile
Book I'm starting with
764347
  

Come Join the Fun
 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Dewey 24hr Read-A-Thon

dewey

This will be my second Dewey 24 hour read-a-thon. It starts October 12, 2013. The start time differs depending on were you live(5am for me). It's a challenge to read for 24 hours, blog, and compete in mini challenges. You could also win prizes for participating. If you are interested in learning more here is the link.24hourreadathon

Here are some of my advanced preparations 
  1. I informed my husband I would be unavailable for 24 hours on the day of the event.
  2. I informed my children that this is my day. I will only be available for emergencies but, go to there dad first.
  3. I am planning out the snacks I will have on hand and designating 15 minutes of every hour for socializing.
  4. I have 10 books on hand from the library, 3 e-books from library2go(digital library), and 2 audio books. 
  5. I plan to read the books with the least amount of pages. I want to feel like I have accomplished something.
Books
5573489  764347  386187  305407  1254951   8337087   8573642  8908   99383      17683

Audio
11165711  Click here to view Audiobook details for Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

E-books
Click here to view eBook details for The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore Click here to view eBook details for Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood Click here to view eBook details for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

I hope you all join in the fun.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Silver Star Review

16130291 
 The Silver Star 
 By Jeannette Walls
Published 2013 by Scribner
Hardcover 288 pages

Summery
 It is 1970 in a small town in California. “Bean” Holladay is twelve and her sister, Liz, is fifteen when their artistic mother, Charlotte, a woman who “found something wrong with every place she ever lived,” takes off to find herself, leaving her girls enough money to last a month or two. When Bean returns from school one day and sees a police car outside the house, she and Liz decide to take the bus to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that’s been in Charlotte’s family for generations.

An impetuous optimist, Bean soon discovers who her father was, and hears many stories about why their mother left Virginia in the first place. Because money is tight, Liz and Bean start babysitting and doing office work for Jerry Maddox, foreman of the mill in town—a big man who bullies his workers, his tenants, his children, and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sister—inventor of word games, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, nonconformist. But when school starts in the fall, it’s Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens to Liz.

My thoughts
The Silver Star is one of this months picks for the reading club in my home town. I am a cover shopper and I would not have picked this book on my own. However, I really did enjoy the book.

The story is told in Beans(horrible nickname) view point. You can't help but love her. She speaks her mind, she's loveable and not afraid of anything. She is a good example for those around her. It doesn't matter that she's younger then them all.

I was horrified that the mother left them alone. I kept thinking about all the horrific things that could happen to such young girls. I however can understand the longing to want to escape everything. I just would never put it into action especially, at the expense of my own children.

I know there are a lot of bad things that happen to children out there. I just prefer when I'm reading about them, they be vague. This book does that.

The ending was unexpected and I loved it.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars

Thursday, October 3, 2013

FraterFest Read-A-Thon

 Fraterfest is over. I enjoyed it and hope to participate again next year.
Here are the books I finished
9972882  7631105  51428  

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. I hope to see you at the next challenge.

It's time for the FraterFest Read-A-Thon. It will be my first time participating in this read-a-thon. I'm excited to get to work on my TBR pile. For those of you that have never participated it is a bump in the night read-a-thon, celebrating everything Rhiannon Frater. You can read anything scary, vampire, ghost, shape-shifter, zombie ect. I think you can also read mystery's. If you are interested in participating check it out in the link to the right.

What I wanted to read
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  • The Scorch Trials by James Dashner: Finished the book today(October 5, 2013)it was a fast read and I enjoyed the story. I just don't get the whole trial stuff. It's a little unrealistic. I think I will have to read the third book to decide if I really like the series.
  • Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
  • Stake That by Mari Mancusi: I couldn't read these two books. I didn't get to the library fast enough on Friday and the library is closed on Saturday.
I ended up reading a book I had on my nook
    9972882
  • Juliet Immortal by Stacy Jay  
This book was surprisingly good. I really enjoyed the new take on  Romeo and Juliet. I can't wait to pick up the second in the series.

My Goals
  1. Finish 3 books
  2. Participate in 3 challenges
  3. Visit every participates blog once


Challenge 1
Thirst Buster 

In this challenge we are asked to list our favorite drinks and a book we are looking forward to reading.

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Recipe
 My go to drink when I'm reading in the fall
  • Hot chocolate with peppermint mocha creamer
The book I'm looking forward to reading for this read-a-thon

 99383  I have really enjoyed this series since I discovered it.

 I hope everyone is joining in the fun and reading some great books.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

What I'm Reading This Week

It's been a while since my last post. I've really missed doing it but, life happens. I have been really busy with my family and work. I have read a lot. I just haven't made the time to review or write about it.

This week I am planning on reading 3 books

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I'm half way done with The Silver Star and I like it so far. 

I plan to make more time to blog and I hope to be on here more often. Have fun reading!