Bout of Books 28 – May 2020

I’m gearing up for the Bout of Books 28! Readathons have been a blessing for my reading life during this period of quarantining and social-distancing, when things are consistently distracting me from my books. If you don’t know what the Bout of Books Readathon is, here is a description created by the hosts:

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are daily challenges, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For Bout of Books 28 information and updates, visit the Bout of Books blog. 
– From the Bout of Books team

Here are my goals for the readathon:

1. Participate in challenges.
2. Complete book for virtual book club.
3. Complete 3 additional books.
4. Read 750 pages.

Here is what I intend to be reading this week:

If any of you are interested in participating in the Bout of Books Readathon, you can sign up here. It’ll be an amazing time!!!

STAY HEALTHY AND READ ON!!!

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WWW Wednesdays – August 21, 2019

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Time for another WWW Wednesdays, which is brought to you by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. If you too want to participate, answer the above questions and post that link on Sam’s page.

I got back last week from my road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland and am now getting back to my beautiful books. Surprisingly, I did not read AT ALL on vacation. That is so unlike me, but I really wanted to embrace the sights on this trip and got to spend quality time with my husband that does not get to happen too often. I did, however, visit some amazing bookstores in Ireland. Here are just some of my bookstore purchases:

I’m also trying to catch up on some reading by participating in the Bout of Books Readathon that started on Monday. Anyone else participating?

Currently Reading

Finished Reading

Focus on Authors: One Summer by Bill Bryson – audiobook = ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Focus on Authors: Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson – ebook = ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Becoming by Michelle Obama – audiobook/book = ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ½
IRL Book Club: Tigerman by Nick Harkaway – ebook = ♦ ♦ ♦
Happiness Hacks by Alex Palmer – audiobook = ♦ ♦ ♦ ½

Reading Next

What are y’all reading? Tell me what you are reading or post your WWW link in the comments!

HAPPY READING!!!

Bout of Books 26 – August 19-25, 2019

I’m gearing up for Bout of Books 26! After going on vacation and not reading at all, I am more than ready to get back to all my beautiful books. If you don’t know what the Bout of Books Readathon is, here is a description created by the hosts:

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

Here are my goals for the readathon:

1. Do at least 80% of the challenges.
2. Finish 3 books.
3. Read 800 pages.
4. Read for at least 2 hours a day.

Here is what I will be reading:

If any of you are interested in participating in the Bout of Books Readathon, you can sign up here. It’ll be an amazing time!!!

HAPPY READING!!!

WWW Wednesdays – May 22, 2019

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Time for another WWW Wednesdays, which is brought to you by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. If you too want to participate, answer the above questions and post that link on Sam’s page.

Last week I participated in the Bout of Books Readathon. Unfortunately, it was a tough reading week, since I had multiple house repairs and renovations done (the joys of home ownership) and family was staying with us until yesterday. However, I still managed to read more than 1,000 pages, which was really good for me. I always want to read more than.

Currently Reading

Finished Reading 

The Man from the Train by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James – audiobook = ♦ ♦
Focus on Authors Reading Challenge: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – book = ♦ ♦ ♦ ½

*Click on the titles to view my review. All Vonnegut reads will be reviewed at the end of the month.*

Reading Next

Have you read Kurt Vonnegut? If so, what are your thoughts on his writing? What are you reading lately? Please feel free to share your WWW posts in the comments below, if I haven’t already visited.

HAPPY READING!!!!

Bout of Books 24 – Day 4 Update

As I just returned from my holiday vacation, I thought participating in the Bout of Books read-a-thon would help me start 2019 on a good reading note. Plus, I always enjoy the Bout of Books read-a-thons. However, I have not made a lot of progress due to a lovely cold that I picked up on my travels home. I have one of those colds that causes horrible migraines, so reading has been a bit difficult. I have not completed any books yet, but I am hoping that the second half of this read-a-thon will be more productive.

Currently Reading:

She Lies in Wait (DCI Jonah Sheens, #1)

by Gytha Lodge

75/368 (20%)

Just Started: 

I started this audiobook, as I couldn’t read with my eyes at all yesterday.

The Library Book

by Susan Orlean

32/318 (10%)

Starting Soon:

The Coroner’s Lunch (Dr. Siri Paiboun, …
by Colin Cotterill

These are the three books I really want to complete by the end of Bout of Books 24. Wish me luck! Are you participating in the Bout of Books read-a-thon? If so, how are you doing? What are your goals?

 

WWW Wednesdays – August 29, 2018

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Time for another WWW Wednesdays, which is brought to you by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. If you too want to participate, answer the above questions and post that link on Sam’s page.

Currently Reading

Finished Reading

Due to some extra time reading this week by participating in the Bout of Books Readathon, I was able to finish the following books and also make good progress on the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo.

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by Retta – This is a must read for any fans of Parks and Rec. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Retta herself. She had me laughing to and from work. She definitely made my commute much more tolerable. The section about Hamilton was my favorite.

Ordeal By Innocence by Agatha Christie – I was bless to receive a copy of this novel from a Goodreads giveaway. Glad to receive a copy of an Agatha Christie I hadn’t yet read, as her stories never disappoint. She immediate set up a story of intrigued followed by a murder in a house full of potential suspects. Mrs. Argyle, a wife and mother, was brutally murdered and one of her sons went to prison for the crime, where he proclaimed his innocence and eventually died from illness. Years later, a mysterious man comes to town claiming that he just read about the murder and can give the convicted son an alibi. Little time is spent celebrating the unfortunate and now dead son’s innocence, as they all realize that there is still a killer among them. It is slowly revealed too that Mrs. Argyle was not as beloved by her family as it might have seemed. As the story progresses, many characters seem to have some motivation for killing her. It kept me questioning everyone until the very end. This is why Christie is the Queen of Mystery.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones – I started this book a while ago and made it about halfway before I had to put it down. I decided this past week to actually finish it. I may be in the minority on this, but I was really disappointed in this book. This book has been praised by former-President Obama and Oprah, but I just don’t feel like it holds up to all the hype. The topic was an important one, but I feel like that was lost in horrible characters that I disliked from almost page one. Has anyone read anything else by Tayari Jones?

Reading Next

I just got some library holds last night!!!

What are y’all reading this week? Any recommendations?

Happy Reading!!!