FrightFall Readathon - October 1-31

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If a month of scary stories sounds like a great time, join me for the FrightFall Readathon. I pulled a huge stack of frightening reads off my bookshelves and then found a few more at the library. I know I won't get to all of them, but I like to have lots of choices to honor my moods as my cravings shift.

WEEK 1 TOTALS (OCTOBER 1-7):

Books started: 8

Books finished: 6

Pages read: 1802

     

      The Robe of Skulls     The Haunting of Hill House

Vivian French                    Shirley Jackson

☆☆☆                               ☆☆☆☆

                  

          Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales      The Woman in Cabin 10

                   Deborah Noyes (Ed.)                         Ruth Ware  

                           ☆☆☆☆                                     ☆☆☆  

                 

                      Full Tilt                          Heart-Shaped Box

                Neal Shusterman                          Joe Hill

                        ☆☆☆                                  ☆☆☆

WEEK 2 TOTALS (October 8-14):

Books started: 3

Total started: 11

Books finished: 4

Total finished: 10

Pages read: 1667

Total pages: 3469

             

                Picture the Dead                     The Fireman

                   Adele Griffin                            Joe Hill

                       ☆☆☆                                 ☆☆☆☆ 

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body

Roxane Gay

☆☆☆☆☆

WEEK 3 TOTALS (OCTOBER 15-21):

Books started: 10

Total started: 21

Books finished: 11

Total finished: 21

Pages read: 3026*

Total pages: 6495
Thanks to Dewy's 24 Hour Readathon!

           

   What Happened          The Case of the Missing Marquess

Hillary Rodham Clinton               Nancy Springer

         ☆☆☆☆                              ☆☆☆☆

  

        Vanishing Girls              Today Will Be Different

         Lauren Oliver                       Maria Semple

            ☆☆☆                                  ☆☆☆

                  

 And Every Morning the Way                          Beartown

Home Gets Longer and Longer

Fredrik Backman                                     Fredrik Backman

    ☆☆☆☆☆                                               ☆☆☆☆

  

The Adventures of Superhero Girl    You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Faith Erin Hicks                                            Sherman Alexie

☆☆☆☆☆                                                         ☆☆☆☆

   

  The Case of the Left-Handed Lady            Pemba's Song

                  Nancy Springer          Marilyn Nelson & Tonya Hegamin

                    ☆☆☆                               ☆☆☆

Granny

Anthony Horowitz

☆☆✩

WEEK 4 TOTALS (OCTOBER 22-28):

Books started: 6

Total started: 27

Books finished: 6

Total finished: 27

Pages read: 2051

Total pages: 8546

            

    When Breath Becomes Air       I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Paul Kalanithi                      Lisa Schroeder

☆☆☆✩                      ☆☆☆☆

          

                     A Good Idea                            Wild

                  Cristina Morocco               Cheryl Strayed

                         ☆☆                          ☆☆☆☆ 

     

                  The Word is Murder       Magpie Murders

                    Anthony Horowitz       Anthony Horowitz

                       ☆☆☆                  ☆☆☆✩

A fun month of reading a bit outside my comfort zone. While it didn't go as planned, I enjoyed the readathon. My scary pick generally didn't turn out to be be scary, and the nonfiction and more realistic fiction choices I made turned out to have more scary moments. The formatting for this post gave me nothing but trouble, so it looks wonky and I've decided it's good enough. And done. Until next time!

       

Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge

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I'm late to the party on this one, since the Read Harder Challenge started in January, but I'm going for it anyway. Because why the hell not? Who couldn't benefit from a little stretch?

Looking through the list of reading prompts, I have 18 covered already with what I've read so far this year. However, finishing the few that are left seems a bit too easy, so I'll be starting fresh and attempting to complete all 24 reading prompts between now and the end of the year.

Woo hoo! Here we go!

1. Read a book about sports. Beartown by Fredrik Backman ☆☆☆☆⭒ (A dying town that has pinned all its hopes for the future on the junior hockey team grapples with issues of loyalty after its star player rapes a classmate.)
2. Read a debut novel. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill ☆☆⭒ (Decent writing, but not my cup of tea.)
3. Read a book about books. Touch Magic: Fantasy, Faerie & Folklore in the Literature of Childhood by Jane Yolen ☆☆☆☆☆ (Loved this collection of essays. Yolen lays out the many ways that fantasy literature is developmentally crucial to children, our sense of history, and society as a whole.)
4. Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez ☆☆☆☆ (Compelling historical fiction about the Mirabal sisters, Las Mariposas, and their fight for freedom during the reign of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.)
5. Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative. The Far Away Brothers by Lauren Markham ☆☆☆☆ (Combines the personal story of a family's struggle for survival and the larger political and economic factors that drive illegal immigration.)
6. Read an all-ages comic. Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur Vol. 1: BFF by Amy Reeder ☆☆ (I enjoyed the artwork, but there was too little story in the first volume.)
7. Read a book published between 1900 and 1950. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey  ☆☆☆☆☆ (A childhood favorite! Simple, repetitive story and lovely black and white drawings.)
8. Read a travel memoir. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed ☆☆☆☆ (A woman, alone and ill-prepared, hikes a portion of the PCT to prove  she can. Raw and honest.)
9. Read a book you’ve read before. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson ☆☆☆☆ (Creepy classic ghost story/psychological thriller.)
10. Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location. The Legend of Indian Mary and Umpqua Joe by Percy T. Booth ☆☆⭒ (Interesting local history of Southern OR with a dash of racism.)
11. Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho ☆☆☆ (A young Slovenian woman decides to commit suicide because her life is boring and wakes up in a mental hospital.)
12. Read a fantasy novel. The Robe of Skulls by Vivian French ☆☆☆ (Cute fantasy-adventure for upper elementary readers.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about technology.
14. Read a book about war. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline ☆☆☆☆⭒ (I may be pushing this category a bit. The war in the story is not between nations, but instead between everyday people and an evil corporation attempting to seize control of the Oasis, an online virtual reality. Super fun 80s nostalgia and nonstop action.)     
15. Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour ☆☆☆☆ (Evocative writing about grief, loneliness, and family.)
16. Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn CURRENTLY READING
17. Read a classic by an author of color. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston CURRENTLY READING
18. Read a superhero comic with a female lead. The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks ☆☆☆☆☆ (Utterly charming artwork and story featuring an angsty, 20-something superhero struggling to save the world and still pay the rent.)
19. Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey (From Daniel José Older, author of Salsa Nocturna, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, and YA novel Shadowshaper)
20. Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel (From Sarah MacLean, author of ten bestselling historical romance novels) Month of Sundays by Yolanda Wallace ☆☆☆ (Light and breezy contemporary romance.)
21. Read a book published by a micropress. (From Roxane Gay, bestselling author of Ayiti, An Untamed State, Bad Feminist, Marvel’s World of Wakanda, and the forthcoming Hunger and Difficult Women) The Legend of Indian Mary and Umpqua Joe by Percy T. Booth (B&B Publishing, Coos Bay, OR) ☆☆⭒ (Interesting local history of Southern OR with a dash of racism.)
22. Read a collection of stories by a woman. (From Celeste Ng, author Everything I Never Told You and the forthcoming Little Fires Everywhere) Dancing Girls and Other Stories by Margaret Atwood ☆☆☆☆ (Several stellar stories about relationships and how we wreck them.)
23. Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love. (From Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of the Esa Khattak/Rachel Getty mystery series, including The Unquiet Dead, The Language of Secrets, and the forthcoming Among the Ruins)
24. Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color. (From Jacqueline Koyanagi, author of sci-fi novel Ascension Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward ☆☆☆☆☆ (Beautiful writing and a haunting story; a perfect example of why I'm reading more books by women and POC this year; highly recommend.)

I loved this challenge because it lead me to stretch out of my comfort zone. Though I bought some new books in order to cover every category, I ran out of time to read them all this year. I'm currently in the middle of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, reading slowly and savoring the gorgeous writing. Looking forward to a productive and informative reading year in 2018. 

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - October 21, 2017

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Stock up on books and caffeine! It's time for Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon! The event takes place on October 21, 2017 and you can sign up here.

The organizers have come up with a fun photo challenge to keep us busy while we wait for the main event. There are several places to follow along, but I'll be posting at #30Days of Readathon on Twitter. Come on by and join the fun!

Since I've been doing so many readathons, often more than one at the same time, I do one long post for each event. During the readathon, I'll update this post as I go. 

I love that everyone is reading at the same time, no matter where we are in the world. Find out the start and end times for your time zone here. I'm in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, so I'll be reading from 5:00 am on Saturday, October 21 to 4:55 am on Sunday, October 22. 

******************
Here we go!
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Saturday, October 21, 2017

5:00 am - 2:00 pm: Reading You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Read The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Read You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Read The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Read Pemba's Song by Marilyn Nelson & Tonya C. Hegamin
10:00 pm - 12:00 am: Read Granny by Anthony Horowitz

Books started: 5

Books finished: 5

Pages: 1097

Sunday, October 22, 2017

12:00 am - 2:00 am: Read I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder
2:00 - 5:00 am: Reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (So close to the end, but didn't quite finish.)

Books started: 2
Total started: 7

Books finished: 1
Total finished: 6
Pages: 410

Total pages: 1507

Total hours read: 20-ish. I took a couple of unexpected naps while resting my eyes with an audiobook and had to replay a few tracks. 

Hour One:

Ten Years in 10 Books (Recommend a book published in each year of the readathon):

2007--The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2008--The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

2009--Ash by Malinda Lo

2010--How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen

2011--Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman

2012--Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

2013--Two Boys Kissing by David Leviathan

2014--Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

2015--Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

2016--The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

2017--The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I've read and loved these books and I think you will, too.

Hour Three Gifathon:

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Hour Five Challenge: #readmorewomen

Read and loved.

TBR

I didn't spend much time on the social media aspect this time. Instead, I focused on reading as much as possible. Which is the point, right? Gotta get that TBR wall under control. 
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Bout of Books 20

Bout of Books 20 is here!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01 am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 
- From the Bout of Books team

Updates will follow!

Oh, by the way, I'll also be doing #TheReadingQuest because it starts on August 13. Check here for my progress and more details, but hurry if you want to sign up. Once the quest starts, sign-up closes, though you can still follow along for fun.

Since Bout of Books is a lovely, low-key experience, I'll be using the TBR I set up to complete the quests in #TheReadingQuest, which are very specific. Due to forest fires burning close enough to my house to result in crappy air quality (but not any immediate danger), I'm trapped at home with my books with lots of time to read. 

MY GOAL: 

read at least 200 pages every day of the readathon.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Day 1 Challenge: Introduce Yourself #insixwords 

I read to escape from reality.

Started: 2 (Estrella's Quinceañera by Malín Alegría; From Somalia, with Love by Na'ima B. Robert)

Total: 2

Finished: 1 (Estrella's Quinceañera)

Total: 1

Pages: 340

Total: 340

Goal met? Yes

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Day 2 Challenge: Synopsis Rewrite #synopsisrewritebob20

     The poem that Samantha is reading in school is all about hope. But Samantha doesn't have much hope lately. After all, there are so many other things to think about. Her friend Frannie, for example, won't come to church with her. And Trevor, the class bully. And the new kid, Jesus Boy, who looks white even though he says he's not. Who is he? 
     As winter goes on, the idea of hope stays with Samantha, and she begins to see things in a new light. She starts to wonder if Jesus Boy really could be what she's been waiting for. She is afraid to say it aloud, but she can't stop thinking of her own desire for "that thing with feathers." 
     Set against the backdrop of the early seventies, Jacqueline Woodson's powerful story takes readers on a journey into a young person's heart. 

Started: 2 (Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson; Fairest of All by Serena Valentino)
Total: 4

Finished: 3 (From Somalia, with Love; Feathers; Fairest)

Total: 3

Pages: 450

Total: 790

Goal met? Yes 

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Day 3 Challenge: Book Spine Rainbow #bookspinerainbow

Started: 2 (Quiver by Stephanie Spinner; Seraphina by Rachel Hartman)

Total: 6

Finished: 1 (Quiver)

Total: 5

Pages: 284

Total: 1074

Goal met? Yes

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Day 4 Challenge: If you like this, try that...
#ifyoulikethistrythat or #Day4

If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, try The Young Elites by Marie Lu. #boutofbooks #ifyoulikethistrythat #day4

Started: 2 (A Sending of Dragons by Jane Yolen; When My Name was Keoko by Barbara Sue Park)

Total: 8
Finished: 1

Total: 6

Pages: 334

Total: 1408

Goal met? Yes

Friday, August 25, 2017

Day 5 Challenge: Write a review
#boutofbooks #day5

For this challenge, I chose my favorite book from the readathon so far, Quiver by Stephanie Spinner. It is a lovely retelling of the story of Atalanta and the Three Golden Apples, fleshed out with humor and a dash of feminist flair.

Here's a link to the review on Amazon.

Started: 0

Total: 8

Finished: 0

Total: 6

Pages: 216

Total: 1624

Goal met? Yes

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Day 6 Challenge: LOVE to HATE
#boutofbooks #lovetohate

So many juicy villains to choose from! Here are a few that came to mind:

Amy Dunne from Gone Girl
Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones
Dracula (the Bram Stoker version)
Severus Snape from Harry Potter
Annie Wilkes from Misery
Pennywise from It
Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind 

Started: 1 (The Midnight Star by Marie Lu)

Total: 9

Finished: 2 (When My Name was Keoko; Seraphina)

Total: 8

Pages: 490

Total: 2114

Goal met? Yes!

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Started: 2 (Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman; Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez)

Total: 11

Finished: 0

Total: 8

Pages: 313

Total: 2427

Goal met? Yes

FINAL STATS

Books Started: 11

Books Finished: 8

Pages read: 2427

Avg Pages Per Day: 347

Goal Met? Yes

Bout of Books 21: January 8 - 14, 2018

Hope to see you there!