Bout of Books 32

Bout of Books is almost here! What is Bout of Books?

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 16th and runs through Sunday, August 22nd in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 32 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

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I am in the middle of a bunch of books so I hope to get a lot of good reading time in. I need it after this truly difficult past week. I will check back in on Monday!

Monday

Good first day of reading! Mondays are usually depressing so it was nice to have something to be excited about. Of course I had to work but I read on my lunch break and when I got home.

I finished Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. It was so good. It was probably my favorite of her books so far.. I stayed up too late to finish it but I could not put it down. A tropical storm is headed this way so it’s supposed to pour tomorrow so I will be at work sad that I am not at home reading ha ha.

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Monday Numbers

Pages Read: 257

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 52 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Tuesday

What a day! I woke up at 3:30 to my phone saying there was a tornado watch and never went back to sleep. I drove to work in a monsoon tropical storm so it was quite an exhausting day.

I did get a little reading in even though I was pretty tired. I am listening to the an awesome podcast called Phoebe Reads a Mystery. She reads a chapter of a classic book per day. I am currently listening to The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I haven’t read this one before and I am really enjoying the mystery. Phoebe Judge has the best voice!

I am also reading When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles This is the sequel to where Dreams Descend which I really loved last year. This one comes out in October. I am not really enjoying it as much as the first one as it’s a little confusing but I suppose by the end it will all come together.

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Also, I just had to share a bookish purchase I received today. I am obsessed with tea of course and I get this monthly tea box called Communitea. You have one tea per day to open and enjoy. It’s a terrific way to try new teas but there is also a fun community aspect where you talk about tea and post photos of tea. So they had a pride and prejudice tea the other day that I enjoyed and I had to order a tin of it and look how gorgeous it is!!

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So altogether not a great reading day but hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Tuesday Numbers

Pages Read: 47

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 21 minutes

Books Finished: 0

Wednesday

Wow this has been quite a week. There is SO much going on and I feel so helpless to control any of it. I just can’t believe we are back in this mess. It feels like it is March 2020 all over again. Will it ever end? At least I have books to escape in. The only thing keeping me sane.

I am reading too many depressing books so I put them aside when I got home from work and started and finished Out of Left Field. It was a fun, light read.

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I just feel super discouraged and feel like life will never be the same again. My parents refuse to get vaccinated and I wonder what the future holds. My sweet dog snuggled with me tonight and I don't know how people who don’t have pets are functioning right now.

Wednesday Numbers

Pages Read: 412

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 33 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Thursday

Again I put all my other books aside and started reading what I thought would be a romance book. It Only Happens in the Movies was not a romance and it was sad in parts but I really enjoyed it.

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Thursday Numbers

Pages Read: 420

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Friday

Today was a tiring day. It was busy at work and I had to go out and get lunch so I didn’t have as much time to read. And when I got home I had to get ready for the wedding that I am photographing tomorrow so I mostly was able to get audiobook time in. I started a new book The Meet-Cute Project which I have been excited about reading. I also finally finished The Woman in White audiobook. Which I really enjoyed! I didn’t take any book photos today but here is a cute photo of my kitty. I probably won’t get very much reading done tomorrow because of the wedding but hopefully Sunday I will have more time.

Friday Numbers

Pages Read: 137

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 38 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Saturday

Just checking in really quick because it’s 11 pm and I am trying to recover from the wedding today. It was absolutely fabulous and I enjoyed it so much but I am exhausted! I didn’t have much of a chance to read since I was at the wedding most of the day but it was such spectacular day.

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Saturday Numbers

Pages Read: 85

Audiobook Time: 46 minutes

Books Finished: 0

Bout of Books 26

Yay! It is Bout of Books time. I love this readathon because it lasts a whole week and it is zero pressure. What exactly is Bout of Books?

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 26 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I started working full time at the library in the middle of May so I no longer have my mornings free to read during the week. So I definitely won’t get as much reading done this week as I have in prior years. My goal is just to take the time to read more when I get home from work. I have been so tired that I have not always had the energy to read. So I am looking forward to that. As always I will keep this post updated as I go.

This is what I plan to read this week. I doubt I will finish all of them even though I am halfway through A Dream So Dark and I have already started Journey to the Center of the Earth. I am looking forward to reading Wicked Saints. I have heard so many good things about it and I bought it on Independent Bookstore Day in Nashville earlier this year and it’s one I have been saving. I am looking forward to reading the second Belles book too. I didn’t love the first one but the world building was so good so hoping this second one works better for me.

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Monday

Today was a good reading day. I was able to listen to my audiobook a little bit throughout the day. During lunch I had to edit some theatre photos so I listened to it while editing. Jules Verne is one of my favorite authors. I grew up loving his stories. I am really enjoying listening to this version of Journey to the Center of the Earth which is narrated by Tim Curry. It is excellent!

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I finished my first book: A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney. I was lukewarm about the first book in this series. But this one hit the ball out of the park. It had everything I love in a fantasy: Adventure, intrigue, imposters, magic, darkness, lightness, magical lands, kick ass women, magical food, healing and magical creatures. Loved it!

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Headed to bed now and hoping I can get more reading in tomorrow even though it is super busy day.

Monday Numbers

Pages read: 224

Audiobook Time: 4 hours 11 minutes

Books finished: 1 

Tuesday

Today was a super busy day at work and I had a headache so I didn’t have much chance to read a physical book but I had some good audiobook time. I finished Journey to the Center of the Earth. I highly recommend that Audible book. It was really good! After I finished that I started the Treasure Island audiobook.

I am also reading the second Belles book, Everlasting Rose. I am really detesting one of the characters and it is ruining the book a little bit.

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Tuesday Numbers

Pages read: 108

Audiobook Time: 6 hours 32 minutes

Books finished: 1 

Wednesday

Well today was an interesting day. I worked until 12 and then had to come home because I felt so terrible. I slept for a few hours and then had to photograph a show at the theatre tonight. I am exhausted. I am still trying to get used to my new schedule three months in. I need more sleep.

I finished the Treasure Island Audible book. It was very good. It was more of a drama than a reading of the book. It was so good.

I also finished The Everlasting Rose. I really don’t like any of the characters in that book and I don’t think I will read any more of them. It was hard to get through.

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I started the audiobook of Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland by Jonathan M. Metzl. It is depressing and enraging but I highly suggest people reading it.

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That one is a pretty heavy book so I also started my favorite new Audible book, The Anne of Green Gables Collection. It was only one credit and it’s all the Anne book! What a deal. I am enjoying listening to the first book and it’s a good book to fall asleep to.

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Wednesday Numbers

Pages read: 174

Audiobook Time: 5 hours 38 minutes

Books finished: 2

Thursday

Today was a busy day! I worked all day and now I must go to bed early because I am so tired. Thank goodness for audiobooks!

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. I can’t believe it has been eight years since The Night Circus came out. I love that book so much. I am only 50 or so pages in to this new one and it is so good. I am hoping it holds up all the way though.

Pages read: 55

Audiobook Time: 4 hours 48 minutes

Books finished: 0

Friday

Today was another busy day at work but tonight I was able to get a little reading in after dinner with my husband. I still have a lingering headache so it was mostly audio today. I didn’t finish or start any books today. Looking forward to having all day Saturday and Sunday to relax and read.

Pages read: 50

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 55 minutes

Books finished: 0

Saturday

Well today was a glorious, relaxing day! It was exactly what I needed. I read and hung out with my dog and edited photos while listening to audiobooks. It was great.

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I also watched a rom com movie with Scott Michael Foster who I adore. But it was about a wedding photographer and I kept yelling at the TV you are missing the shot. Seriously this photographer missed so many important shots. That’s why you can’t watch media about the job you have. All you see are the inaccuracies. I didn’t finish any books but I did start a new book, Maybe This Time by Kasie West that I impulsively bought. I almost finished the whole thing in a few hours. Such a delightful YA book. I can always justify my book purchases now by saying I will donate them to my library collection after I am done. I swear I have improved our YA collection so much by doing this. I finally finished editing a big photo session I have been working on for awhile and I am so happy. I also took a book break and watched some Jane the Virgin. I can’t believe I only have ten episodes of this show left. So sad. I am looking forward to tomorrow as I have nothing planned!


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Pages read: 301

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Books finished: 0




Bout of Books 23

Hooray it is time again for Bout of Books! What is Bout of Books you ask?

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 20th and runs through Sunday, August 26th 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 23 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team."

It will be a great week full of extra excuses to read (as if I need any). It will be a busy week work wise but hoping to get some good reading in. I have a small physical stack of books to read, a couple of eARCs and an audiobook. Happy reading y'all!

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Monday

Today was a really busy day. I worked at the library and had a city meeting tonight so I mostly got reading in at lunch and when I got home I took a nice long bath. I did get to finish a book that I had started prior to Bout of Books, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. This was my second time reading it but after watching the Netflix movie twice over the weekend I had to read it again! Love that series. I hope Netflix makes all the other books into movies too! 

Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 325

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 9 minutes

Books finished: 1

Tuesday  

Another busy day. I didn’t get much of a chance to read today. Tomorrow is even busier so it may be the weekend before I get any good reading in.

Tuesday Numbers: 

Pages read: 163

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 34 minutes

Books finished: 0 

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Wednesday  

Today was a super busy day working until 10 pm so reading was a bust for today.  

Wednesday Numbers:

Pages read: 58

Audiobook Time: 1 hour

Books finished: 0

Thursday 

Today was a very rough and sad day as a family dog died. I got home from work and just didn’t feel like reading so I watched tv instead.  

Thursday Numbers

Pages read: 121

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 29 minutes

Books finished: 0

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Friday 

It was another busy day but when I got home from work I tucked myself away with my books and had a glorious evening reading. My husband was at a football game until late so I had no one to interrupt my reading. It was a good way to cap off a long week.

I finally finished The World As It Is audiobook. I have been reading it for about a month. It was painful to get through at times. It was an unflinching look at what is was like working in the Obama White House. I liked the honesty but a lot made me made. So many obstructions. Maddening.

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I also finished The Proposal. I adored Jasmine Guillorys first book. It was delightful but this one lacked the same magic for me. 

I also finished P.S. I Still Love You. I forgot how unlikable Peter Kavinsky was in this book. I hope they change that if they make the second movie. 

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Friday Numbers 

Pages read: 191

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Books finished: 3

Saturday 

My depression and tiredness kind of overwhelmed me today so I stayed in bed most of the day. I slept and read The Kiss Quotient. I also am listening to the first Maisie Dobbs audiobook. I have read the book before but never moved on in the series so starting it again!I also started How Fascism Works which was probably a bad idea considering how I feel. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Saturday Numbers 

Pages read: 326

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 23 minutes

Books finished: 1

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Sunday

I felt so much better today that I ended up spending most of the day working on photography things. So I really didn't get much of a chance to read.

I finally started Dread Nation by Justina Ireland! It has been on my TBR list for awhile so I was excited to finally read it. 

I am sad it's the last day of Bout of Books. 

Sunday Numbers 

Pages read: 80

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 9 minutes

Books finished: 0

Warp Up

Well this Bout of Books ended up being different from others I have done. It was a weird emotional week and it was also busy at the library. I didn't have as much time to read as I would have liked. But it was always nice to be able to sink into a book when I was feeling bad. 

Bout of Books 23 Totals

Total pages read: 1,264

Total audiobook Time:  12 hours

Total books finished: 5

Bout of Books 22

It is time for Bout of Books!  

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 14th and runs through Sunday, May 20th 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 22 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I love Bout of Books. It is always a fun time. It will be a busy week so not sure how much reading I will get in but I plan on having fun.

 

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This is my TBR for Bout of Books. I also have a graphic novel, audiobooks and ARCs to read from and I have two books in process. I will be happy if I get a chance to finish 3 books this week. 

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Monday

Day one of Bout of Books was actually pretty great thanks to audiobooks! I had to work at the library and then had a photo shoot that evening so I didn’t get much regular book reading in. But my audiobook Exit, Pursued by a Bear is so good it is really hard to turn off. I also finished one book I had to read for work. It is a children’s book, The Poppy Lady. It is about the women who popularized the use of poppies as a symbol of fallen soldiers in WWI. I have a patron who wants to come in and do a program on her and I am excited because it’s a fascinating story. 

Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 157

Audiobook Time: 4 hours 47 minutes

Books finished: 1

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Tuesday

Today was a busy day so not much time for reading. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I have a photo session in the morning but then I am off the rest of the day. It’s supposed to rain all day so I plan to snuggle in bed with books and kitties!

Tuesday Numbers:

Pages read: 47

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Books finished: 1

Wednesday

Today was a much better day reading wise! I had a photo session in the morning, hung out with my sister and kitties for a little bit and then went home and read all afternoon. It was an awesome day! I finished Furyborn. It definitely lives up to the pre published hype. I enjoyed the world creating and am looking forward to the reading the other two in the future.

Wednesday Numbers:

Pages read: 313

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 27 minutes

Books finished: 1

 

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Thursday 

Well today was pretty much a terrible reading day. I worked until 10:30 at night so I only had time for a little bit of audio booking and a few pages of my ebook.  It was an exhausting day.

 Thursday Numbers:

Pages read: 79

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 13 minutes

Books finished: 0

Friday 

This was another terrible reading day. I was just too busy. I worked all day and then headed to my sisters to spend the night for her Royal Wedding party tomorrow. I can’t wait! 👑  

Friday Numbers:

Pages read: 22

Audiobook Time: 28 minutes

Books finished: 0

Saturday 

I simply didn’t have time to read today. I had to watch the Royal wedding. Twice. And my husband and I celebrated our eleventh anniversary. It was a packed and wonderful day with not much reading time but that ok. That’s what I love about Bout of Books. I don’t feel guilty when I can’t get a lot of reading in.

Saturday Numbers:

Pages read: 22

Audiobook Time: 24 minutes

Books finished: 0

Sunday 

This was a much better reading day! I read the whole day except for four hours when I had to photograph a theatre show. It stormed so hard today and there is nothing better than curling up with a good book while it’s pouring. 

I finished Flunk. Start. Wow what an excellent book. If you are looking for a book on Scientology that is shocking with lots of reveals and shocking details this is not the book for you. This is a book full of exploration and inner thoughts of a woman caught up in this cult. It’s very good.

I came within an hour of finishing The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue audiobook. It’s such a funny but also sad book. I really wanted to finish it but I am too tired and about to fall asleep.  

I am also reading an e-ARC The High Season. I am enjoying it so far. Although sometimes I get tired of reading books about people who just keep getting screwed over. I hope this one has a happy ending. 

 Sunday Numbers:

Pages read: 307

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 17 minutes

Books finished: 1

Bout of Books 21 January 2018

It's that time again! Bout of Books is here! What is Bout of Books? Well I am glad you asked!

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 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th 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 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I am really looking forward to this readathon as I have been experiencing a bit of a book slump lately. So hopefully this will break me out of it. I have a bookshelf full of books I got for Christmas and some e-ARCs I need to finish so that is probably what I will be reading this week. You can keep up with my reading this week on Litsy (ReadingSusan), Twitter and Instagram

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Monday

I always like to listen to audiobooks during readathons. I used to listen to audiobooks all the time but podcasts have really cut down on my audiobook time. I went to Overdrive and decided I wanted to listen to a collection of short stories. I found M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman. I am definitely enjoying him reading this book!

I am also trying to get some books read that I have been reading for a week or two. I have some eARCs that are about to come out. I am reading Carnegie's Maid and I am really enjoying this historical fiction. The only thing that annoys me about this book so far is that Clara is very judgmental about things Andrew does when she is being really deceitful.

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I am also reading another historical fiction book, The English Wife. This comes out tomorrow so I am trying to finish ad review it tonight but I am only 30% in. I am really loving this book though. I like how it comes back and forth between two points of view and two times to slowly spool out the truth. 

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And I am finally about 50% of the way through Juventud. Wow this book is so amazing. But it is a very heavy subject and I can only take it in bits and pieces. It is so beautifully written.

I finally snagged a copy of Paper Girls Vol 3! I was so excited. It was so good.  I finished it quickly. I can't wait to see where this story goes next!

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All in all this was a terrific day of reading! Especially considering I worked more hours than I normally do.

Today's challenge: Introduce Yourself #insixwords: Photographer, Librarian, Wife, Sister, Reader,  Feminist.

Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 329

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 52 minutes 

Books finished: 1

Tuesday

I didn't get much reading done today because I was busier but I had time to listen to audiobooks while I was running errands and getting stuff done.

I finished The English Wife before I went to bed because it came out today and I wanted to get my review in. I ended up really liking it. 

I am almost done with Juventud which took a turn I expected but was still so heartbreaking.

Sorry I don't have much to say! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better reading day since I am working in the morning and have most of the afternoon to read!

Today's Challenge: 2018 Reading Goals-- Ironically my reading goal this year is to read less and people more. It has been so cold this winter that I have not wanted to keep this goal.

Tuesday Numbers:

Pages read: 318

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 4 minutes 

Books finished: 1

Wednesday

Today was the day to finish reading all the books. I finished M is For Magic, Juventud and Carnegie's Maid. I also started a new audiobook, That Old Cape Magic and The Woman in the Window. I just fit in the reading around work but didn't have as much time to read as I thought I would have. My new longer work hours start tomorrow and I have a big project for my other job so I don't know how much reading I will get done tomorrow. That's what makes Bout of Books so awesome. It doesn't matter how little you can read!

Wednesday Numbers:

Pages read: 190

Audiobook Time: 53 minutes 

Books finished: 3

Thursday

Pretty much a bust for reading except for my audiobook. There's always the weekend.

Thursday Numbers:

Pages read: 81

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 27 minutes 

Books finished: 0

Friday 

Bout of Books is so different now that I am working a second job. I just don’t have as much time to read.

Friday Numbers 

Pages read: 153

Audiobook Time: 49 minutes

Books finished: 0

Saturday 

Today I spent the day celebrating my birthday with my sisters so once again I didn’t get much reading in. But it was such a fun birthday celebration! 

Saturday Numbers 

Pages read: 40

Audiobook Time: 1 hour 26 minutes

Books finished: 0

Sunday

I spent all morning hanging out with my sisters and then all afternoon and evening reading! Twas a glorious day for the last day of Bout of Books! 

Sunday Numbers 

Pages read: 655

Audiobook Time: 21 minutes

Books finished: 2

Wrap Up

This definitely felt like one of my least productive Bout of Books. I was rushed a lot of the week and sometimes when I was home didn't feel like reading. But the reading I did get in was very satisfying. My favorites were The Great Alone and Paper Girl Vol 3. I am off tomorrow so I plan to continue reading. In the comments below all me how you did for Bout of Books!

Total Numbers

Pages read: 1,766

Audiobook Time: 10 hours 52 minutes

Books finished: 7

 

Bout of Books 20 August 2017

It is finally the week of Bout of Books 20! I am so excited.

"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 12:01am 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.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is one of my favorites because it lasts a whole week. And no surprise my week is packed with work and after work activities. So I don't know how much time I can make for reading but I will get in as much as possible. 

My goal is to finish up the books I am currently reading which are the following:

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

Devil's Bargain by Joshua Green

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

When Paris Went Dark: The City of Lights Under German Occupation, 1940-1944 by Ronald C. Rosbottom

I am also reading A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin but I doubt I will have time to finish it as I am "only" 400 pages in.

Well I am going to get to reading before I have to head to work for eclipse madness!

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Well thank goodness for audiobooks is all I have to say. I didn't have a terrific reading day. Work was insane. We were getting phone call for eclipse glasses every 30 seconds before the eclipse started. The good news is I got to see the eclipse. It was so amazing! I definitely am going to plan a trip in the path of totality for the next one.

I mostly read my Game of Thrones book and listened to my audiobook but I hope to get more into the Lying Game tomorrow. It's a fascinating story so far and I am looking forward to finding out what really went on. It has been a long day and I have to be up super early tomorrow as I have a photo session an hour away. Better luck tomorrow!

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Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 160

Audiobook Time: 3 hours

Books finished: 0

Tuesday

Helloooo Tuesday! Today was an insanely crazy day. I was in my car most of the morning, driving to a photo session and then running all these long overdue errands. I worked at my second job at the library all afternoon so I only got some reading in before bed. But the good thing about being in the car all day is that you have plenty of time to listen to audiobooks!

I finished listening to When Paris Went Dark. I don't know if loved it is the right word considering the subject matter. But this book was really informative and had a good narrative flow. Books about the Nazis are extra chilling these days.

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I also finished Before I Let Go. I loved the first half of the book. This was a haunting tale of a girl trying to figure out how and why her best friend died. The pain and grief of Corey was palpable in the pages. And then suddenly the book turned confusing and disjointed. It kind of turned out to be nothing? I was really confused by the resolution of the story. I also didn't like the phone call scenes. They really took away from the flow of the book and didn't really add much (FYI I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

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I also am reading a book at work called Inside, Outside, and Online: Building Your Library Community. It's very heavy on research and stats. I am trying to read more about the Library world and how it works so this is very helpful. 

Tuesday Numbers  

Pages Read: 330

Audiobook Time: 5 hours 50 minutes

Books Finished: 2

Wednesday

Another subpar day. This just wasn't the best week for me in terms of being able to read. My time is so crunched this week. I think this Bout of Books will just be all about audiobooks. I had work and then had to photograph a really long play so I didn't get much actual reading done. I mainly just was able to finish reading The Lying Game before work. I really loved it! It was just the right amount of suspense and mystery. 

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I would say I am hoping for a better reading day tomorrow but I have to take my MIL to the dr. tomorrow and it will probably take up all my time before work. Sunday is the only day this week I will have to read all day so I am looking forward to it.

Wednesday Numbers

Pages Read: 256

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 8 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Thursday

Nope. Just a wash. Better luck tomorrow or the weekend.

Thursday Numbers

Pages Read: 169

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 56 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Friday

OMG its finally Friday! So happy. It has been a long, long week! I feel like the eclipse threw everything off. I am hoping to catch up on sleep and reading this weekend. I didn't get much of a chance to read again today as Friday is one of my long work days. I am sad about my lack of reading time this week. I do miss being able to take time off during read-a-thons but I am so thankful to have found a part time job I love. So it's ok if I wasn't able to read as much as usual. I am happy I am able to read at all!

Friday Numbers

Pages Read: 82

Audiobook Time: 21 minutes

Books Finished: 0

Saturday

Yay finally a decadent reading day and I spent hours at my Grandmas today and still got some good reading in.

I finished Small Admissions. It was quite disappointing. I saw so many good reviews about it. It just reminded me of the usual different girls in the city books. I wasn't that attached to the people in the book and I probably only finished it because it was a readathon.

I was so excited to get an ARC of Andy Weir's new book, Artemis. I started it tonight and it is SO good. It definitely kept me up later than usual. I forced myself to go to bed. When I got Martian I started reading it at 6 pm and I stayed up all night until I was done. I love that this book has a female protagonist. 

Well tomorrow should be a good reading day although I am also hoping to spend some time with my husband too!

Saturday Numbers

Pages Read: 355

Audiobook Time: 38 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Sunday

Well this was definitely the best reading day of the whole week. I finally just got to real and enjoy reading.

I finished Artemis. I really enjoyed this book. I don't think it's always easy for a male to write a female MC and there were a few instances where I thought that missed a little. But I thought this book was so fun. I liked Jazz and her cast of characters. Like The Martian my eyes would glaze over at the hard core science stuff. This book reminded me of an old fashioned heist movie even though they weren't heisting anything!

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I also was excited to get am ARC of Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World. This book is awesome! Its a graphic novel packed full of beautiful illustrations and text about awesome ladies from history that you don't usually hear about. It is SO good. 

I started Moonglow too because I have five days to read it before it has to go back to the library.

Sunday Numbers

Pages Read: 522

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 7 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Wrap up!

Well this was not one of the best Bout of Books I have ever done. I just didn't have the time I usually did. But I still did decent. It was a long and exhausting week and I was glad the little pockets of time I was able to escape and read.

Total Numbers

Pages Read: 1,874

Audiobook Time: 20 hours

Books Finished: 6

 

Bout of Books 19 May 2017

Yay, it is time for Bout of Books again! 

Bout of Books

"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 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th 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 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog." - From the Bout of Books team

I love this week long Readathon. This will be my fourth time doing it. I did Bout of Books 16, Bout of Books 17 and Bout of Books 18. This years readathon will be a little different since I now work all afternoon. But I am still looking forward to reading as much as I can. Check back here during the week for updates. I will also be posting on Goodreads, Instagram and Litsy (@ReadingSusan).

Monday

Happy first day of Bout of Books! I am going to try to get in some reading before I leave for work. The first challenge is to introduce yourself in six words: Photographer. Wife. Sister. Reader. Friend. Liberal. 

I am starting off with Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I have been wanting to read this book ever since it came out. I got the audiobook from the library. Looking forward to diving into this one.

Well day one was pretty much a wash. I worked most of the day and then had a newspaper assignment all night. Better luck tomorrow. 

Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 81

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 58 minutes 

Books finished: 0

Tuesday

Tuesday was a little better reading day especially because its one of my shorter days at work but also I had a lot of photos to edit so I was able to listen to my audiobook while editing. 

I was quickly sucked into The Ex by Alafair Burke. It is a terrific mystery and I am dying to find out the solution. I hope to have time to finish it today.

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I am still reading LaRose but I have to admit it is a struggle. I wouldn't say I am enjoying it necessarily. The writing is very good and the story is compelling enough to not DNF it. But the lack of quotation marks is infuriating!

I am still loving Z. I am about half way through. I really love the historical fiction books based on real peoples lives. 

I am going to attempt to finish a book today! And maybe read some of my graphic novels before I have to return them to the library. 

Tuesday Numbers:

Pages read: 205

Audiobook Time: 5 hours 36 minutes 

Books finished: 0

Wednesday

Half way through the week. I finally had the time to read a lot more. 

I am almost done with Z and it makes me so mad to see how she was treated. I hate that Scott insisted on putting his name on her stories. Infuriating!

I had to return LaRose to the library since I was out of renewals. I will pick it up again at some point but I am also not crying over having to return it.

I finished The Ex. Even though I guessed the ending I still enjoyed the twists and turns through the whole book. It was so fast paced and suspenseful.

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I also read Twilight: The Graphic Novel. I was hoping that it would be better than the original books which I am not a fan of. But I guess I just don't like the whole concept. Bella is willing to give up her whole life and family for a guy. That's just not romantic to me. It's sad.

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I started and finished Saga: Volume 5. Before Litsy I never would have been reading four or five graphic novels a month. Before this year I had only read the Buffy graphic novels and Lucy Knisley graphic memoir. Now I love all sorts of graphic novels like Paper Girls, Lumberjanes and Saga. This volume of Saga was so good and had a much anticipated moment. 

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The next book I started was What Comes After. This book is SO sad. Don't read it if you are feeling down. Iris' story is pretty tragic and I am hoping this one has a happy ending.

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Also, I just found out the new Anne of Green Gables adaption comes out on Netflix Friday so already anticipating that day to be a wash! 

Wednesday Numbers:

Pages read: 725

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 53 minutes 

Books finished: 3

Thursday

Another busy day. If there is one thing I have learned from working outside the home again is that there is no time to do anything anymore especially read. So I just got a little bit of reading in, mainly audiobooks while editing photos.

Thursday Numbers:

Pages read: 383

Audiobook Time: 2 hours 3 minutes 

Books finished: 2

Friday

Another washed out reading day. I worked and had an after work event and then came home and watched the first episode of Anne with an E. And then I was so exhausted I went to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better reading day. I

Friday Numbers:

Pages read: 157

Audiobook Time: 0 

Books finished: 0

Saturday

Oh hello Saturday! So glad to see you! I had awesome day with lots of relaxing and reading. I am still trying to shake this strep throat so I needed a day of rest. 

The Woman Who Stole My Life is a hilarious book that flashes back and forth between the MC's past and present. It is so funny and I am really enjoying it 100 pages in. 

I finished the graphic novel, Locke & Key: Brain Games. I loved this volume! It was so crazy and fascinating. The detail in the drawings just amaze me. I can't wait to read the third volume!

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Paperweight was such a hard book to read. It is about a seventeen year old with an eating disorder. Being in Stevie's mind can be a really uncomfortable experience. She views her body and the world through this warped lens and it so tragic. But this book is SO good. So well written. I highly recommend it but it is also difficult.

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Wrecked was another heart wrenching book as it was about college rape. It was an interesting perspective as the main story wasn't from the POV of the victims or the accused. I was definitely left with some questions after the book was over which dropped it in my estimation. 

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I started Hunted which is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. I am a sucker for retelling of fairy tales stories! I am only 50 pages in but am enjoying it so far.

My husband and I also watched Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I loved it! It was so good. I loved how much more magic there was than in the HP movies. I can't wait until the next one!

Tomorrow is Mothers Day and I am hosting so I don't know how much reading I will get done. I probably won't finish any more books. I might dip into Game of Thrones again since I have been reading it since the last Bout of Books. I need to stop getting books from the library and read my own!

Saturday Numbers:

Pages read: 617

Audiobook Time:  0

Books finished: 3

Sunday

As expected I didn't get much reading done since it was a busy Mothers Day. When you aren't a mother on mothers day you have to do lots of non fun stuff like cook and clean for mothers ha ha. So my last day of Bout of Books was sad. I wish these reaadathons wouldn't coincide with events like this.

Sunday Numbers:

Pages read: 176

Audiobook Time: 0

Books finished: 0

Wrap Up

Definitely my worst Bout of Books yet. I used to be able to work just a little bit during this readathon since I was my own boss. So this was a quite an adjustment. I love this readathon but this time it just felt more stressful with work. So I don't know if I will do this again. It makes me sad.

Final Numbers:

Pages read: 2,344

Audiobook Time: 15 hours 30 minutes

Books finished: 8

 

Bout of Books 18 January 2017

I love the Bout of Books read-a-thon. This is held twice a year. This will be my second time participating. 

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 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th 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 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team.

I really enjoy this read-a-thon and am looking forward to a fun week. It will be a great way to ease back into post holiday work. I will be updating this post throughout the whole week!  I will also be on Twitter, Instagram and Litsy as Reading Susan!

Monday

The first day of Bout of Books I have been a little scattered and not done a lot of reading between storms (scared puppy), last day of vacation and setting up this lovely new blog home.

I was about 50 pages in on Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs so I finished that up this afternoon. It was an interesting installment in the series although it was set in summer and kind of threw me out of the story. I also enjoyed some of my delicious Christmas candy including this out of this world salt water taffy. 

After I was done with that I started A Necessary End which was a book I won through a Goodreads Giveaway. I am about halfway through now and this is one that is holding my attention mostly because I really want to find out what happens at the end. 

I started listening to audiobook Night by Elie Wiesel. Whew. 15 minutes in and it is intense. This may be one I can only listen to in small chunks. This is a book I have been wanting to read for years and I am glad I finally bought it. I enjoyed some tea tonight as its pouring down rain in my new Jane Austen mug. My sister got it for me for Christmas and it is so cute. I will have to take more close up photos tomorrow because I love all the quotes all over the mug.

Monday Numbers:

Pages read: 435

Audiobooks Time: 22 minutes 

Books finished: 1

Tuesday 

Today was my first day back to work after the holidays. I got a lot done and was super energized. I didn't get much reading time but I did finish one book and start reading Roses and Rot by Kat Howard. I am hoping to have more reading time tomorrow.

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Tuesday Numbers:

Pages read: 224

Audiobooks Time: 2 hours 4 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Wednesday

Today was another busy day with working on sales tax and my (accounting) books. Numbers are not always my friend. I got a little more reading in today but still felt a little distracted. I am working on Sunday so I decided to take tomorrow off and just enjoy reading.

I finished Night. Wow was that a hard read. Very difficult to comprehend how much horror people went through at concentration camps. Also, terrible to think how much Elie Wiesel has had to put up with from Halocaust deniers. So awful. This book should be read by everyone. Never forget how quickly evil men can destroy the people with their hideousness. 

I also finished Roses and Rot. I liked it for its strangeness and some of those characters were really interesting. But I feel like it faltered in places. It could have been so much better and I didn't feel the story was developed as much as it could be.  

I started listening to the audiobook of The Man of My Dreams. I was so excited to see this on my library page. I love Curtis Sittenfeld and I thought I had read all of her books. 

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I splurged and bought Heartless today so I started that next. I am super excited to read it. I love anything based off of fairy tales or other books and this is based off of Alice in Wonderland. I got some good kitty snuggles while reading tonight. Looking forward to tomorrow!

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Wednesday Numbers:

Pages read: 326

Audiobooks Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Books Finished: 2

Thursday

I had more time to read today, especially my audiobook. I didn't take the day off like I planned because I had to much to do. Lately I have been re-reading the Mandie books which are books I loved so much as a child. I started the tenth in that series today. They are quick reads so I finished it tonight. The forecast is calling for 3-4 inches of snow which is huge for here. I am super excited and hope it really happens.

Thursday Numbers:

Pages read: 332

Audiobooks Time:  6 hours 7 minutes

Books Finished: 1

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Friday

How is it already Friday!? It is shocking to me how fast this week went by. I really feel like I didn't read much this week but that is only because I read for so many hours during vacation. Today I read a lot. We had a winter storm system forecasting today so I just huddled under blankets trying to stay warm, drinking wine, baking cookies and getting so excited for the snow. We hardly ever get any snow and some forecasters said we could get up to three inches which is so exciting for this area. I love snow sooo much. I was more excited the last couple of days about the snow then I was about Christmas. Well we got a whole lot of nothing! Absolutely no snow. All gross freezing rain. And now we will be stuck in the house all weekend because of the ice but no snow. Huge waste! So I am super down in the dumps about that.

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I finished listening to the audiobook of The Man of My Dreams. It was an interesting book in places but overall was just kind of dullish. If you don't like unpleasant main characters definitely don't read it because Hannah is awful. 

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I also finished Heartless. It seemed to take me forever to read. The premise of this book (the origin story of the Queen of Hearts) was so good. But the execution was just so so. There were parts I adored (like the things she would dream) and parts I hated (pretty much Jest). I think maybe that was a book I had been anticipating so much it could have never lived up to my expections. 

I started and finished You Know Me Well and it was so good. I loved how it was written by Nina LaCour and David Levithan and they each wrote parts of it. It really gave Mark and Kate such distinctive voices because it was! Terrific book and perfect since I want to read more diverse books in 2017. 

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Friday Numbers

Pages read: 470

Audiobook time: 2 hours 23 minutes

Books finsished: 3 

Saturday  

I had such a great and relaxing day today. Although it did not snow it was icy so I just stayed in all day drinking tea, reading books, watching Sherlock, eating and listening to audiobooks and podcasts. It was glorious. 

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I started reading All the Rage this morning and this book really did enrage me. Don't get me wrong it was a great book but it was a very difficult subject matter dealing with a teenage rape victim. The way she is treated is sickening and even though I know it's a fiction book I also know this is how people treat victims all the time. The rape culture we have is truly terrible and I hope in my lifetime I can see that go away. I did enjoy using my new teapot although I did take this photo before I read the book and realized it was such a  heavy topic.

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I had to take a little break in reading books after I finished All the Rage since it was so upsetting but then I stated something a little lighter Yes Please by Amy Poehler. It's a really good and funny audiobook. I always enjoy when an author narrates their own book.

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I also started The Sun Is Also a Star. I am about 100 pages in and absolutely loving it. I loved Nicola Yoon's first book and this one is so good so far. 

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I also finally started the fourth Game of Thrones book. I only read these books when it's cold so I figured today's would be a perfect day for that. 

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I can't believe tomorrow is the final day of Bout of Books! I have done a terrible job of interacting on social media and others blogs but I plan on doing that tomorrow. And doing lots of blog reading on Monday. 

Saturday Numbers 

Pages Read: 479

Audiobook Time: 50 minutes

Books finished: 1

Sunday

Well this was an even more leisurely day than yesterday. I spent more time watching TV than reading because I had a hard time concentrating on reading. I also didn't feel very good which meant that I was able to take a nap which I usually have a really hard time doing during the day.

I finished The Sun Is Also A Star. I really, really loved that book. I usually am not a fan of "instal-love" but this story went a little deeper than that and I liked the themes of immigration and race.

I am about half way through Yes Please and I highly recommend the audiobook version. Amy Poehler is so funny and I love listening to her read her book. She also brings in special guests like Seth Meyers and her mom. It is really funny.

A Feast for Crows is really good. I don't know why people were telling me that none of the main characters were in this book. I would have read it a long time ago if I knew that they were.

I also started an ebook The Last Anniversary which has been on my Kindle. It is really interesting and I can't wait to see what really happened. I have a mixed reaction to Liane Moriarty books. I either love them or hate them and I think this was one of her first books.

Sunday Numbers

Pages Read: 368

Audiobook Time: 3 hours 12 minutes

Books Finished: 1

Bout of Books Wrap Up

I had so much fun participating in this week of reading with the awesome book community. I am very happy with all the reading and relaxing I was able to get in. It was a great way to begin 2017! Thanks to Amanda, Kelly and all the other volunteers for making this such a great event!

Pages Read: 2,634

Audiobook Time: 16 hours

Books Finished: 10

Bout Of Books August 2016

Wow I can't believe it's almost time for the next 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 12:01am Monday, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th 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 17 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

OF COURSE it will be a super busy week and I have more scheduled than I have in the last few months. But that seems to be the way most readathons go for me. I still went to the library and got a pile of books plus I will be trying to read some of my ebook TBR and audiobooks while driving around. I will be updating this post all during Bout of Books so stay tuned here and to my Twitter and Instagram accounts.



Monday--
Well as expected I didn't have that much time to do anything but listen to audiobooks today. I had an awesome newborn session this morning. I love cuddling new babies! I was in the car for a few hours so I took the time to listen to The Hunger Games audiobook. I love The Hunger Games books so much and it is such a different experience to listen to the audiobook than read the book. I am really enjoying it. I have a lot of photo editing to do tomorrow so it is quite possible that I will finish the audiobook. 
I am also listening to the audiobook of Missoula: Rape and the Justice System In A College Town. This one is rough to listen to. It is enraging, devastating and heartbreaking. I can only listen to it in small pieces. It is such an important subject. I love Jon Krakauer's writing. All his books are fascinating. 
I started Insatiable by Meg Cabot. I love the modern day twist on a vampire story. I didn't get that far in it as I could barely keep my eyes open but I am really looking forward to reading more of it tomorrow. I didn't even take any photos of my books today which is quite surprising but I will try to be better on Instagram tomorrow. 

Day One Numbers 
Pages read: 183
Audiobooks Time: 5 hours 45 mins
Books finished: None

Tuesday-- This was a much better reading day since my photo session today was only about 25 minutes. I had lots of editing/audiobook time and I even finished a few books. I didn't finish either of my audiobooks but I am nearing the end on both. 


I finished up Insatiable. It ended up being a pretty fun read if the author meant it to be a cheesy vampire parody. If she didn't well not so good. 


I also started and finished My Folks Don't Want Me To Talk About Slavery. It is a collection of twenty one oral histories from the Slave Narrative papers. People went around in the late 1930's gathering all these stories and commentary on slavery: how they were treated, what they ate, were they educated etc. I think this is a must read. Their voices were silenced most of their lives and it's important to hear what they have to say. I plan on looking for more books written about these first person narratives. 


In honor of the Olympics being over I started reading You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott. Ahh it is SO good. I could barely put it down and go to bed. I have heard so many great things about her books and now I want to read them all.
I have to take my MIL to the dr tomorrow an hour away so I have downloaded another Jon Krakauer book for us to listen to in the car. 

Day Two Numbers 
Pages read: 445
Audiobooks Time: 5 hours 47 mins
Books finished: 2

Wednesday--
Well today was a busy day with lots of editing. And a simple 10 minute doctors appointment turned out to be a nightmare of traffic and storms and five hours away from the house. I finished The Hunger Games audiobook and You Will Know Me. I started The Great American Whatever and The Invisible Intruder. I am pretty irritated tonight so I will talk more about these books tomorrow. 

Day Three Numbers 
Pages read: 388
Audiobooks Time: 5 hours 23 mins
Books finished: 2

Thursday-- Well this was a much better actual book reading day although I didn't feel very good. I am afraid I am getting sick. 
I finally finished the Missoula audiobook that I have been listening to for a few months. It was a tough one to get through. It's a very difficult subject matter and very enraging. But I definitely recommend reading it. It should be required reading for boys and girls in high school.
I also am listening to Under the Banner of Heaven. I downloaded this for our  trip to the dr yesterday. It is a book about Mormon fundamentalists. It is another very hard subject matter. 
I finished The Invisible Intruder, the 46th Nancy Drew book. I love the Nancy Drew books so much. I have a huge collection of Nancy Drew books and companion books.


They are some of the first books I remember reading. My mom had all the blue covered books. She threw them away one day for some reason and I will never get over it. Sadly I just have the new yellow ones. It is interesting to read these books and even though they have been updated from the original books they still are old fashioned. And poor Bess gets fat shamed all the time. I enjoy the three or four older books I have because they have the illustrations inside the front cover from all the books. It just brings me right back to childhood! 


I also finished The Great American Whatever. I really loved this book! The breezy style Tim Federle writes with is great even with the sad subject matter. I would say this isn't so much a love story as a story of grief and acceptance. I love all the quips and jokes. I enjoyed being in Quinn's head. 


I started listening to Catching Fire, the next Hunger Games book. This is my favorite of all the Hunger Games books. I love it so much. I am just really enjoying listening to these. It's a different experience. 


I started and finished the 19th Agatha Raisin book, A Spoonful of Poison. I love these cozy mysteries and I love Agatha. She is so unpleasant and foolish about men but she always solves the case! The books always make me laugh. I have really been enjoying the books since she started the detective agency. 


I started See Me, the newest Nicolas Sparks book. I won it in a Goodreads giveaway so I figured I would read it now. I feel bad when I win a book and don't read and review it right away. I have a love/hate relationship with Nicolas Sparks. A lot of his books are too formulaic. However I don't mind formulaic (see Nancy Drew and Agatha Raisin above ha ha). I am having a hard time getting into this one though. I also ate about a pound of Twizzlers while reading it. Not a good idea when I already don't feel good. 


Tomorrow I plan on finishing editing my last photo session, listening to the new Butch Walker album and hopefully getting some reading in. 

Day Four Numbers 
Pages read: 695
Audiobooks Time: 3 hours 19 mins
Books finished: 4

Friday-- It was a fairly good reading day even though I also was busy with work and cleaning. I stayed up late since it was Friday. 
I finished See Me and it ended up being pretty good near the end. But there were just so many annoying characters and it was too long and rambly. I felt like the character development was terrible. Lily was a horrible cliche of a Southern woman which is ridiculous because Nicolas Sparks is from the South and knows better. But Lily and Serena seemed to share too many characteristics. And I just didn't buy the romance between Colin and Maria. I thought a real woman would have been SO annoyed by his saying okay all the time. Nope not cute. I hated how her family had to be told about his past and Colin have that dramatic talk with her father. My parents would never have a say in who I dated at 28. Ridiculous! Anyway I am just glad he has gone away from one of the main characters always dying at the end. That was getting pretty predictable. 


I also started and finished the next Agatha Raisin book There Goes the Bride in which James Lacey's young bride to be is shot to death on their wedding day. Oh James you and Agatha belong together because you are idiots about the people you date. Ha ha. The only sad thing about this book is that I don't have the next one.
I finally started Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I can't wait to read this one as I have heard so many good things about it. And I love following Tahereh's travels and photography on Twitter and Instagram. She wears amazing outfits. And she and Ransom Riggs are #relationshipgoals. Am I too old to say that?
My goals for tomorrow and Sunday are to read as much as I can while enjoying it and hopefully do something fun along the way as summer is winding down.

Day Five Numbers 
Pages read: 655
Audiobooks Time: 3 hours 1 min
Books finished: 2

Saturday-- Today was a pretty leisurely day. I did work a little and then enjoyed dinner and spending time with my husband so didn't get as much reading in as I did the last two days but it was a good day.
I am still listening to and really enjoying Catching Fire. I forgot how much of the book was set before the Quarter Quell even started. 
I am still reading Shatter Me. I am liking the characters but I am fascinated with this world and hope to hear more about it before the book is over.
I started and finished another Meg Cabot book Nicola and the Viscount, a Regency romance and it was funny and very entertaining. I also started the Overbite, the sequel to Insatiable, but I am having a hard time getting into it.


Tomorrow is the final Bout of Books day and I probably won't read as much as I have been because I have some work to do. We shall see. Oh and I also noticed today on Goodreads that I met my book reading goal for the year! I didn't know I would meet it so early. I may have to change the goal to the amount of books I read last year. 

Day Six Numbers 
Pages read: 466
Audiobooks Time: 3 hours 11 min
Books finished: 1

Sunday-- I got some good photo editing in today and also watched a movie with my husband but still was able to do a good amount of reading on the final Bout of Books day.
I finished the Catching Fire audiobook and listened to a few more chapters of Under the Banner of Heaven. I finished Shatter Me and started and finished Ramona the Brave. I just can't help but marvel at how perfectly Beverly Cleary captures the emotions and feelings of being a child.
I will do a wrap up post tomorrow.

Day Seven Numbers 
Pages read: 471
Audiobooks Time: 4 hours 9 min
Books finished: 2

Wrap Up & Totals
Well Bout of Books 17 has come to an end. I really enjoyed taking the time all week to just enjoy books. I didn't watch any tv or listen to any podcasts. Even though I did miss my podcasts I did enjoy time away from the TV. It was a busy week but I definitely read way more than I thought I would. I read many hours of audiobooks while working and driving and that definitely helped me read more. I am already looking forward to the next Bout of Book in January!

Totals
Pages read: 3,303
Audiobooks Time: 30 hours 35 min
Books finished: 13


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Bout of Books 16

The Bout of Books Read-a-thon sounds like a really good read-a-thon!


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 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th 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 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


It sounds like it is a fun and casual read-a-thon so I thought I would participate although this week and weekend is busier than usual. I always can make time for reading! I will update this post with all the books I am reading so check back in throughout the week! I will also be updating at Twitter and Instagram.

Monday


Books Read: 1

Pages Read: 328

Notes: I finished Salt to the Sea. I also am switching off on listening to the Jane Eyre audiobook and reading the book depending on what I am doing.

Tuesday

Books Read 0

Pages Read: 293

Notes: I finished about 75% of The Guest Room. It is such a great book and I can't wait to finish it tomorrow. I also read a little more of Jane Eyre.

Wednesday

Books Read: 3

Pages Read: 729

Notes: I finished The Guest Room and started and finished Kissing Christmas Goodbye and Marcy Catches Up. I started Criminal That I Am and kept reading Jane Eyre. The Guest Room was very good and Criminal That I am is a fascinating memoir. Kissing Christmas Goodbye is an Agatha Raisin book that had a Christmas celebration in the last ten pages so they slapped a Christmas name and cover on it. Marcy Catches Up was the second installment of a 1950s YA series I have been reading.

Thursday

Books Read: 2

Pages Read: 466

Notes: I finished Criminal That I Am, started and finished The Good Girl. I read more of Jane Eyre, or rather listened, while I ran errands. And I started The Dream Thieves.

Friday

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: 195

Notes: I didn't get much reading in today as it was a busy work day.

Saturday

Books Read: 1

Pages Read: 157

Notes:I didn't get much reading in as I was working but I did finish the 3rd Marcy Rhodes book and read more of The Dream Thieves.

Sunday

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: 86

Notes:Another bad reading day since I had a photo session and then hung out with my sister afterwards.

Bout of Books Totals:

Total Books Read: 7

Total Pages Read: 2,254