Today's Bout of Books Challenge is hosted by Kristina Horner and can be found here. For today's challenge, you need to right a haiku about the book that you are currently reading.
I am currently reading Choosing by Rachelle Dekker. This is a Christian Dystopian novel written by Ted Dekker's daughter.
Here is my haiku:
Carrington. Not chosen.
Lowest rank of society.
Now she is worthless.
To understand my haiku, you must understand a little about the storyline. Carrington is in a society where females train their whole lives to be chosen for marriage. This is not what happens for Carrington. She is not chosen by anyone and instead she must be a lint, the lowest member of society, and she must never marry. Even though she tested high and there was almost no way she would not be chosen, she was not chosen and now she feels worthless.
Even though I have only read approximately 30 pages of this 500 page book, I am in love with it so far. Rachelle Dekker's writing is truly amazing and engaging.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Book Review: Pool of Echoes
Author: David G. Allen
Publish Date: October 19, 2014
Genre: Adult Christian Suspense Thriller
Genre: Adult Christian Suspense Thriller
About the Book (from Goodreads):
In this Inspirational Thriller, Nothing Is Certain But The Truth
Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there.
Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will.
When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension?
Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories.
As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself.
Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment.
If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.
Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there.
Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will.
When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension?
Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories.
As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself.
Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment.
If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.
Review
When I received this book for review, the author informed me that the book was an inspirational thriller and that he was inspired by Ted Dekker. I love Ted Dekker's fantasy/scifi novels (The Circle Trilogy and the Lost Books series) and I enjoyed the books that I have read from him that are thriller novels. Before I read Pool of Echoes, I had certain expectations knowing that the author was inspired by Ted Dekker.
Ted Dekker's novels often make you wonder "What in the world is going on?" and you usually don't fully understand the novel until you are finished with the series. It is always a crazy ride. This is also true of Pools of Echoes.
Pools of Echoes stars a main character who is in the mental ward. The whole book I was asking myself "Is any of this really happening in the 'real world' or is it all just a figment of the main characters imagination?". I was expecting crazy twists in the plot and everything that seemed to be real to not be real. This excitement and curiosity made this novel incredibly interesting.
The ending was surprising and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean thriller novel.
Final Statements
Recommended Reading Age: 12+ for intense action scenes and some foul language
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Bout of Books 13 Update Post (Complete Thread)
This week is Bout of Books 13. Bout of Books is a week long, low pressure readathon. Here is the official blurb about the readathon:
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 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th 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 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books teamIn this post, I will be keeping my daily updates about my reading. I was unable to read any on Day 1 (Monday).
Day 2
- I officially joined the readathon and wrote my TBR post for the readathon.
- I completed the Day 2 Challenge, Character Face Off.
- I completed A January Bride (approximately 86 pages)
- I completed Pools of Echoes (approximately 32 pages read)
- I read 202 pages of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a "book told in words and pictures"
Total Pages for Day 2: 320 pages
Day 3
Day 3
- I completed the Day 3 Challenge, Book Haiku
- I completed The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (read 332/534 today)
- I started Choosing by Rachelle Dekker (read 139 pages)
Day 4
- I read 19 pages of Choosing
Day 5, 6, and 7
I was unable to read any.
Totals
Total Pages: 791
Books Completed: 810
- A January Bride (started before the readathon)
- Pools of Echoes (started before the readathon)
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Books in Progress:
- Choosing (on page 158/464)
Bout of Books13 Day 2 Challenge: Character Face-Off
Today's bout of books challenge is hosted by LuLo Fangirl and can be found here. The objective of this challenge is to pick your favorite two characters and have a face off.
As such, there may be spoilers for the Harry Potter and The Giver series.
Opponent #1: Hermione Granger
– WHO: part of the heroic trio from Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
– PROS: highly intelligent, beautiful, and caring towards friends
– CONS: puts learning before all else, and not very athletic
Opponent #2: Jonas
– WHO: main character in The Giver by Lois Lowry
– PROS: stands up against society when things do not seem right, protects those he loves, can "see" events that are occurring
– CONS: his caring nature can lead to self destruction
Winner: Jonas
Why: Jonas stands up for what is right. He cares immensely for others and protects those that he loves. I love the growth that Jonas has in the Giver series. I love his devotion to others and to rid the world of evil. Jonas has depth to his character that is not seen in many other book characters.
Did you participate in today's challenge? Link your challenges in the comments so I can check them out :)
As such, there may be spoilers for the Harry Potter and The Giver series.
Opponent #1: Hermione Granger
– WHO: part of the heroic trio from Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
– PROS: highly intelligent, beautiful, and caring towards friends
– CONS: puts learning before all else, and not very athletic
Opponent #2: Jonas
– WHO: main character in The Giver by Lois Lowry
– PROS: stands up against society when things do not seem right, protects those he loves, can "see" events that are occurring
– CONS: his caring nature can lead to self destruction
Winner: Jonas
Why: Jonas stands up for what is right. He cares immensely for others and protects those that he loves. I love the growth that Jonas has in the Giver series. I love his devotion to others and to rid the world of evil. Jonas has depth to his character that is not seen in many other book characters.
Did you participate in today's challenge? Link your challenges in the comments so I can check them out :)
Bout of Books 13 Participation Announcement and TBR
This week is Bout of Books 13. Bout of Books is a week long, low pressure readathon. Here is the official blurb about the readathon:
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 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th 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 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books teamInitially, I did not think that I would be able to participate this week, but I will have more free time than I thought I would.
For readathons, I usually create what I call a TBR grab pile. My grab pile consists of books that I may pick up during the readathon. It is usually an incredibly long list of books that I may or may not be able to complete. I have a complete list of the TBR grab pile here on Goodreads. Below, I will list a few of the highlights, with descriptions from Goodreads.
Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.
In this Inspirational Thriller, Nothing Is Certain But The Truth. Jordan Mitchfield is heir to a media empire worth billions. He also sees and hears things that aren’t there. Then someone close puts him in an insane asylum against his will. When it looks like there is no way out but to take his own life, he is stopped. Is it a vision? Is what he’s seeing actually real? Is it even part of this dimension? Whatever it is, it opens his cell door and throws him into a dangerous time-travel adventure through his memories. As he goes deeper into the Pool of Echoes, he is forced to confront everything he has ever known, reconstruct his own mental health, and play a role in something much larger than himself.
Fans of Contemporary Science fiction, Action, Espionage, Christian fiction, and Fantasy with a Psychological edge will dive through each exciting moment. If you or anyone you know has ever questioned their own self worth, get on board this life-changing thrill-ride. You will never be the same.
“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”
Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.
But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within.
Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.
Is Mason Wilson just another wimpy kid? Wimps don't embark on an unauthorized night-time trip to a strange, old factory; he'll do anything to stop his penniless family being thrown out of their home. There's a mystery to solve to win the grand prize - if you hardly ever find dead birds lying around, why are whole flocks of them starting to fall from the sky all over the place? Does the Bible really say that it's a sign of the end of the world? Mason uncovers some gross goings-on and plans that will change the world for ever. Should he do the right thing and try and stop them? He'll lose an opportunity of a lifetime if he does; still, when his parents find out he's gone missing, that will be the least of his worries! A quirky, yet strangely educational, adventure-mystery that the whole family can enjoy.
Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.
A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.
I have already started a four of these books listed above. I am 71% complete with A January Bride, 82% complete with Pools of Echoes, 22% complete with Mason Wilson and the Dead Bird Debacle, and 13% complete with The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I read 43% of A January Bride today, so I am including this in my readathon progress.
Are you participating in Bout of Books? What books are on your TBR? Leave your TBR and thoughts in the comments or tweet my (@blog_gal).
Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Spiderwick Chronicles (Books 1 and 2)
Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Publish Date: May 1, 2003
Genre: Children's Novels, Fantasy
Genre: Children's Novels, Fantasy
About Book 1 (from Goodreads):
When the three Grace children -- Mallory, Jared, and Simon -- and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda's old house, readers know there's magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing "my secret to all mankind." After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide -- a brownie named Thimbletack -- who makes it all "real" and helps provide the book's suspenseful conclusion: "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'"
Review
I first read this series when I was younger. I remember loving these books, but I could not remember why I loved them. After re-reading the first and second books during the Dewey's 24 Hour readathon, I fell in love with the books all over again.
The first book started to hold my attention after about page 30. Each book is very fast paced and leaves you wanting more. The writing style reminds me of Lemony Snicket, who I also love.
These books would be a great read for children who want to start reading chapter books. The language is great for a child; simple but enthralling. The plot is engaging. The series became even better in book 2 of the series. I hope to continue re-reading the whole series.
The first book started to hold my attention after about page 30. Each book is very fast paced and leaves you wanting more. The writing style reminds me of Lemony Snicket, who I also love.
These books would be a great read for children who want to start reading chapter books. The language is great for a child; simple but enthralling. The plot is engaging. The series became even better in book 2 of the series. I hope to continue re-reading the whole series.
Final Statements
Recommended Reading Age: Any
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Graphic Novel Review: Amulet (Vol. 1) by Kazu Kibuishi
Series: Amulet (Vol. 1)
Authors: Kazu Kibuishi
Publish Date: January 1, 2008
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
About Book 1 (from Goodreads):
Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot---and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission.
After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.
Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.
After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.
Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.
Review
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the cover. I found the cover beautiful and intriguing. I immediately had high expectations from this book and I was not disappointed.
At first, I thought is strange that one of the main characters in a somewhat scary and extremely action packed graphic novel was a cute pink and white rabbit, but I fell in love with all of the characters in this book. They are all incredibly unique and quirky.
My favorite part of the first volume of this series was the action and the plot twists. I was held of the edge of my seat until the very last page. I cannot wait to read the rest of this amazing graphic novel series.
At first, I thought is strange that one of the main characters in a somewhat scary and extremely action packed graphic novel was a cute pink and white rabbit, but I fell in love with all of the characters in this book. They are all incredibly unique and quirky.
My favorite part of the first volume of this series was the action and the plot twists. I was held of the edge of my seat until the very last page. I cannot wait to read the rest of this amazing graphic novel series.
Final Statements
Recommended Reading Age: 10+ for intense action scenes
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Rereadathon Challenge: What is your most read book?
As you may know, this week is the re-readathon, where you re-read some of your favorite books. I am taking a break from exams and doing a challenge for the re-readathon.
Here is the challenge (from the official post):
My most re-read fiction book would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I have read this book around 5 times (maybe more). I own 5 copies of the book now: 2 UK paperbacks, 2 US paperbacks, and 1 US hardcover. The US hardcover is special to me because my great-grandfather gave me the book when I was young and wrote a special message inside of the cover. Sadly, he has passed away and that is a great memory that I have from him.
One reason that I have read this book so many times is I have the hopes of re-reading to whole series. I always start there and then almost never continue reading the series because I feel guilt about my TBR growing. Another reason is because J.K. Rowling is amazing! Enough said :)
What is your most read book? Please let me know in the comments or on Twitter (@blog_gal).
Here is the challenge (from the official post):
The thing I want to know is, do you have a book that you read over and over (or one that you collect multiple copies of)? Why do you read it so much? What is it that keeps you coming back to it? Basically I want to know whatever you want to tell me about this particular rereading experience!My most re-read book is probably the book of Esther from the Bible. I love that Esther stood up for her people (the Jews) even though she risked her life to do so. My husband and I collectively have about 10 or more copies of the Bible, in different translations.
My most re-read fiction book would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I have read this book around 5 times (maybe more). I own 5 copies of the book now: 2 UK paperbacks, 2 US paperbacks, and 1 US hardcover. The US hardcover is special to me because my great-grandfather gave me the book when I was young and wrote a special message inside of the cover. Sadly, he has passed away and that is a great memory that I have from him.
One reason that I have read this book so many times is I have the hopes of re-reading to whole series. I always start there and then almost never continue reading the series because I feel guilt about my TBR growing. Another reason is because J.K. Rowling is amazing! Enough said :)
What is your most read book? Please let me know in the comments or on Twitter (@blog_gal).
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Re-readathon (May 4-10) Update Complete Thread
The re-readathon, hosted by An Armchair by the Sea, is happening this week. The goal is to re-read books you have previously read. More information can be found here.
Previously, I discussed my TBR grab pile. For this post, I plan to update it daily with my reading updates. For more frequent updates, follow my on Twitter (@blog_gal) or on Goodreads.
Day 1- Monday
I was not able to read any today due to working on my take-home final exams for college.
Day 2- Tuesday
I read 47% of a novella, A December Bride by Denise Hunter (approximately 42/88 pages).
Day 3- Wednesday
I completed the challenge for the day and participated in the twitter chat (woohoo!). Here is my challenge post.
I also read from 47% to 80% in A December Bride (approximately 29 pages today and 71/88 pages total).
Day 4-Thursday
I completed A December Bride (read approximately 17 pages).
I started A January Bride and read 9% (approximately 11 pages).
That's a Wrap
I was unable to read the rest of the days. I read a total of 99 pages during the readathon. Due to the week being busy, I am proud of my progress.
Previously, I discussed my TBR grab pile. For this post, I plan to update it daily with my reading updates. For more frequent updates, follow my on Twitter (@blog_gal) or on Goodreads.
Day 1- Monday
I was not able to read any today due to working on my take-home final exams for college.
Day 2- Tuesday
I read 47% of a novella, A December Bride by Denise Hunter (approximately 42/88 pages).
Day 3- Wednesday
I completed the challenge for the day and participated in the twitter chat (woohoo!). Here is my challenge post.
I also read from 47% to 80% in A December Bride (approximately 29 pages today and 71/88 pages total).
Day 4-Thursday
I completed A December Bride (read approximately 17 pages).
I started A January Bride and read 9% (approximately 11 pages).
That's a Wrap
I was unable to read the rest of the days. I read a total of 99 pages during the readathon. Due to the week being busy, I am proud of my progress.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Re-readathon TBR Grab Pile
This week is the re-readathon, hosted by An Armchair By the Sea. The official post about the re-readathon can be found here. In this post, I talk about my TBR grab pile and goals. I have final exams this week and family coming in, but I hope to read some this week.
TBR Pile
I have a few books that I would like to re-read are novellas. Here they are:
The next set of books that I am thinking about re-reading is some of the Harry Potter series. I just recently got a new set of them because these new covers are gorgeous and my old set is a little worn out. Check out my instagram post about it below:
So that is my TBR pile. Are you joining in on the readathon? What are your goals? What are you reading this week?
TBR Pile
I have a few books that I would like to re-read are novellas. Here they are:
The next set of books that I am thinking about re-reading is some of the Harry Potter series. I just recently got a new set of them because these new covers are gorgeous and my old set is a little worn out. Check out my instagram post about it below:
So that is my TBR pile. Are you joining in on the readathon? What are your goals? What are you reading this week?
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Dewey's April 2015 Readathon Complete Post: All the Happenings from This Wonderful Day
Opening Meme
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
I am reading from North Carolina in the awesome USA!
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
All of them of course!
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Reese's Pieces
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I am a biology graduate student that blogs about books in her free time. I am also a Christian, so I read a lot of christian fiction. I also love reading clean YA, children's novels, fantasy, and clean adult romance novels.
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 enjoyed the readathon so much last year that I think I'll do exactly the same: have fun :)
Hour 2 Mini Challenge: Classic Words of Wisdom
This hour's mini challenge is hosted by A Literary Odyssey and the challenge can be found here. Here is a quote about this hours challenge:
So, for this challenge, you need to create a post highlighting your favorite "Classic Words of Wisdom" and then explain their meaning to you.For this challenge, I thought of one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis. Here is one of my favorite quotes by him:
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.Hour 3 Mini Challenge: 4 Seasons 4 Books
The hour 3 mini challenge is hosted by Bart's Bookshelf and the challenge can be found here. In this challenge, you have to represent the four seasons with four books. Here is my entry:
Hour 7 Mini-Challenge
This challenge can be found here. For this challenge, I had to find 3 book covers: one with a tree, one with snow, and one with a weapon. Here is what I found:
Mid-Event Survey
1. What are you reading right now?
I am currently in the middle of three books:
- The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- Son by Lois Lowry
2. How many books have you read so far?
I have read
- Spiderwick Chronicles 1 and 2 (Children's Fiction)
- The Care and Feeding of Sprites (Part of Spiderwick Chronicles)
- Amulet, Vol. 1 (Graphic Novel)
- Fairy Tales (Graphic Novel)
So I have read 5 books all together.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
I am really looking forward to Son by Lois Lowry.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Yes, I have been taking breaks and spending time with my husband. It is a great time to rest the eyes and I enjoyed it.
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
I am surprised by how much people are talking on Twitter. It is the best part of the readathon!
Ongoing Reading Progress
- Completed The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide (Book 1, 107 pages)
- Completed Amulet, Vol. 1 (185 pages)
- Completed The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone (Book 2, 108 pages)
- Completed The Care and Feeding of Sprites from the Spiderwick Chronicles (35 pages)
- Completed Fairy Tales, Vol. 4 (174 pages)
- Completed The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger (141 pages)
- Read 42 pages of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neal Gaiman
- Read 47 pages of Son by Lois Lowry
Friday, April 24, 2015
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon (Saturday, April 25): Reading Goals and TBR Grab Pile
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Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is coming up very soon! Woohoo! You can sign up for the readathon here. Did you miss my announcement of participation in the readathon, my updated book recommendations for readathons or my post about my overall goals for this readathon?
Today, I am going to talk about my reading goals for this readathon and show you my TBR grab pile. Here are my reading goals:
- Out of these 21 hours that I was awake, I read actively for 8.5 hours. For this readathon, I hope to read actively for at least 10 hours.
- Read 1000 pages. In the october readathon, I read 859 pages (including graphic novels and childrens chapter books). My average reading pace overall was 1.68 pages/minute. By this rate and the additional hours that I plan to read, I should be able to reach this goal.
- Last readathon, I finished 2 adult novellas, 1 graphic novel, and 3 children's novels, for a total of 6 books. This readathon, I hope to finish 7 books.
Now for my TBR grab pile. These are the books that I plan on choosing from during the readathon. I may grab some other books, but these are the ones that I am particularly interested in at the moment. There are too many in my grab pile to discuss here, so I have created a shelf on Goodreads that can be found here.
Are you signed up for Dewey's 24H Readathon? If not, you can sign up here. Do you want to be a cheerleader? You can learn more about being a cheerleader and how to sign up here. Do you want to host a mini-challenge? You can sign up for hosting a mini-challenge here.
If you are signed up for the read-a-thon, what are your goals? I would love to hear about your read-a-thon progress during and after the read-a-thon! Comment below or tweet me at @blog_gal.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon (April 18, 2015): Overall Goals
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Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is coming up very soon and there is still time to sign up! You can sign up for the readathon here. Did you miss my announcement of participation in the readathon or my updated book recommendations for readathons?
Today, I am going to talk about my overall goals for the readathon.
- For the last Dewey's readathon in October, I had a goal of participating in all 24 hours of the readathon. I ended up taking a 3 hour nap during the readathon. For this readathon, I hope to participate in all 24 hours.
- I want to cheer as much as possible :)
- Tweet (@blog_gal) updates about my reading progress as much as possible.
- Write a wrap-up post the day after the readathon.
- Track progress on a spreadsheet similar to the one that can be found here.
Are you signed up for Dewey's 24H Readathon? If not, you can sign up here. Do you want to be a cheerleader? You can learn more about being a cheerleader and how to sign up here. Do you want to host a mini-challenge? You can sign up for hosting a mini-challenge here.
If you are signed up for the read-a-thon, what are your goals? I would love to hear about your read-a-thon progress during and after the read-a-thon! Comment below or tweet me at @blog_gal.
Monday, April 20, 2015
FREE BOOK: Fields of Elysium
Fields of Elysium
by A.B. Whelan
Best seller in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy
4.3 stars on 86 reviews
Price: $0.00 Save $14.35
Award-Winning Author
CAN LOVE MEND A HEART FULL OF HATE?
Small town girl, Molly Bennett, moves to Los Angeles where she becomes an outsider while attending Beverly Hills High School. It seems life cannot be any more dreadful.
Then one day after school, something magical happens. On a secluded hike in the Hollywood Hills, Molly chases her disobedient mutt and only friend into a hidden cavern. She stumbles upon a strange glimmering gateway that transports her to Arkana, a planet that is the cradle of an advanced human race. There, teenagers navigate amazing flying vehicles, compete in perilous games for glory, and possess supernatural powers.
While Molly tries to wrap her mind around this unbelievable discovery, she meets the alluring and mysterious Victor Sorren. He is a Sentinel Apprentice, whose hatred toward people from Earth is beyond understanding. Yet every time Victor unpredictably saves Molly’s life, his heart draws closer to hers, no matter how much he tries to fight against it. It further complicates things that their growing friendship is strictly forbidden. Earth people are prohibited in Arkana, yet Molly continues to cross through the portal to Arkana to see Victor.
Torn between their double lives, they go down a dangerous path, from where there is no return and multiple endings.
Would you fight to be with the one you truly love? What cost would you be willing to sacrifice for that love?
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After reading this story you will find your heart racing whenever you enter a cave.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon (Saturday, April 25): Updated Book Recommendations for Readathons
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Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is next weekend and I am ecstatic about it! If you missed my last post about Dewey's readathon, you can find it here. Are you beginning to gather your books for your TBR pile for the readathon? For today's post, I am updating my book recommendations for readathons. My previous recommendations can be found here. The books below are my additional recommendations.
Firstly, I am going to start with some books that I read during the last Dewey's Readathon. During that readathon, I read a lot of Children's fiction, novellas, and graphic novels. Here are my recommendations from the last readathon.
Children's fiction
Dying to Meet You by Kate Kline is my first recommendation. This is a hilarious children's fiction novel about a boy that moves into a haunted house. This book is written completely in letters and newspaper articles. This was a quick read and I really enjoyed the novel. I gave this book 5/5 stars. You can find my full review for this book here.
Adult Clean Romance Novella
The Year of Weddings novellas are my second recommendation. The novellas in this series are clean romance novels, each written by a different author. I love novellas for a readathon because I can get a lot of them read and I fell like I have accomplished a lot at the end of the readathon. I have read the first two books in this series, both during the last readathon, and I gave them an average rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Lastly, I would like to recommend two young adult novels and a newly released novella that I have read since the last readathon. These are both full length novels, but they are really engaging and to me were pretty quick reads.
My next recommendation is the Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry. I have read the first three books in this quartet and they were amazing! I gave them an average of 4.7/5 stars. This is an action packed dystopian series with each book having different main characters. The first book, The Giver, is about Jonas who is in a world where everything is seemingly perfect. There is no war, no fear, and no pain. Jonas is singled out to recieve special training from the Giver, but can he handle all that he has to encounter? You can read my full review of The Giver here.
In Between by Jenny B. Jones is a YA Christian fiction contemporary novel about a girl that is in foster care and is moved to a new foster home in the middle of no where. Filled with both laughter and sentimental moments, In Between is a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a great, light, inspirational read. This book was also free on Amazon when I purchased it (and it may still be). I gave this book 5/5 stars. You can find my full review here.
Are you signed up for Dewey's 24H Readathon? If not, you can sign up here. Do you want to be a cheerleader? You can learn more about being a cheerleader and how to sign up here. Do you want to host a mini-challenge? You can sign up for hosting a mini-challenge here.
If you are signed up for the read-a-thon, what are your goals? I would love to hear about your read-a-thon progress during and after the read-a-thon! Comment below or tweet me at @blog_gal.
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