Bout of Books: Day Seven!

Another Bout of Books has come to an end. :(

» Day Seven Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

▫ Thoughts on the book:

What is there to say, really, except I LOVED IT. I cannot believe I put off reading it for so long. Such an achingly beautiful, heart-wrenching, intense story.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

- NONE -

» Day Seven Stats: «

# of hours read: 1.5

# of pages read: 163

# of books completed: 1

# of challenges completed: 0

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

▫ Total:

Hours: 11

Pages: 741

Books Completed: 2

Challenges Completed: 4

» Wrap-up: «

▫ TBR:

✓ Read Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

✓ Finish Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

x Finish A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

▫ Final Thoughts:

Overall, I think I did pretty well, considering I had been suffering through a months-long reading slump right before Bout of Books began. I managed to complete Illuminae—which I fell in love with—as well as Just a Few Inches, a book I received for review. It was a good reading week and I managed to complete 2/3 books on my initial TBR, so I would call it a success!

Bout of Books: Day Six!

» Day Six Recap: «

▫ What I read:

 

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

I AM IN LOVE. I was a little worried when I got a hundred pages or so in and couldn't really understand what was happening/where the story was going, but now that things are happening and everything has basically been explained, I am very much enjoying this book. It's so tense, action-y and amazing; basically, it's a great story of survival and love and I haven't wanted to put it down at all today. I only have 100-150 pages left to go, and it reads really fast, so I'm hoping to complete it before Bout of Books ends.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

Share Your Favorite Bout of Books Moment challenge:

» Day Six Stats: «

# of hours read: 2.5
# of pages read: 200
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 1

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▫ Total:

Hours: 9.5

Pages: 578

Books Completed: 1

Challenges Completed: 4

Bout of Books: Day Five!

» Day Five Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Between work, hanging out with my best friend and catching up on homework, I did not get any reading done on day five of Bout of Books.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

Nor did I participate in any challenges. Hahaha, fail.

» Day Five Stats: «

# of hours read: 0
# of pages read: 0
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 6

Pages: 378

Books Completed: 1

Challenges Completed: 3

Bout of Books: Day Four!

» Day Four Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

Because this story is told through emails and case-files, I had a very difficult time understanding exactly what's been going on in the book before yesterday afternoon. However, I did finally managed to get a relatively good grasp on the plot, my interest has been renewed, and I am now flying through this baby at warp speed (ha). All I want to do is read it, which is a pretty great feeling (particularly after a reading slump). Not sure when I will be able to finish it yet, but I am hoping to at least get it done before Bout of Books ends.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

- NONE -

» Day Four Stats: «

# of hours read: 2
# of pages read: 153
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 6

Pages: 378

Books Completed: 1

Challenges Completed: 3

Bout of Books: Day Three!

» Day Three Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

I finished Just a Few Inches on day three, and will have a review up very soon!

▫ Challenges I participated in:

1. Top Five challenge

» Day Three Stats: «

# of hours read: 2
# of pages read: 121
# of books completed: 1
# of challenges completed: 1

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▫ Total:

Hours: 4

Pages: 225

Books Completed: 1

Challenges Completed: 3

Bout of Books 16: Top Five

Today's challenge is to pick five of our favorite... something. And because it's a read-a-thon, that something has to be book related! Thought it's probably a tad boring, I have decided to list five of my all-time favorite books (which was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be).

5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein: I love the adventure in this book, and how an ordinary, boring man can stumble into greatness just by taking that first step out his front door. I found it to be a very inspiring read and I fully enjoyed the eclectic cast of characters and all of the trouble they got into throughout their journey. I pick this book up whenever I am sad or in a slump, and it never fails to make me happy.

4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: Though I love the entire series, The Lightning Thief was where Percy's adventure began, and I enjoy going back to it again and again. I love how young, innocent and naive everyone is in this book, particularly in comparison to the later books/series, and I find something extremely relaxing about that. Also, the humor and wit is my favorite.

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak: I have only ever read this once, but what an amazing book! I had never really taken an interest in historical fiction before, but reading The Book Thief has turned me on to an entire new genre. I love how heartbreaking and real it is because it made me connect to the characters in a really personal way.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Full of magic, love and loss, The Night Circus reminds me a lot of Harry Potter; I become so immersed in the story that I often forget I am reading a book because everything seems so vivid and real. It is an amazing book. I love the characters, the story and the heart of it.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling: Obviously, I love each book in the series for a plethora of different reasons, but I feel like The Sorcerer's Stone is my favorite because it was the very first book and the one that started my love for Harry Potter, and I read it at least once a year, simply because I enjoy going back to Harry's first ever year at Hogwarts and experiencing the magic and wonder all over again. To me, this first book is like home; I feel safe and experience severe nostalgia whenever I pick it up.

BoB 16: Day Two!

Day two has come to an end! Unfortunately, I have not been reading as much as I would like to—school and work have kept me pretty busy so far this week—but I have enjoyed seeing everyone else's updates. I should have more time to read these next few days, so here's hoping I make some progress and manage to finish something soon!

» Day Two Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

▫ Thoughts on the books so far:

Basically the same as yesterday. I'm still trucking through and am hoping to finish the book on day three! 

▫ Challenges I participated in:

1. Show off your shelves photo challenge.

» Day Two Stats: «

# of hours read: 1
# of pages read: 57
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 1

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▫ Total:

Hours: 2

Pages: 104

Books Completed: 0

Challenges Completed: 2

Bout of Books 16: #shelfie

Today's challenge is to post some photos showing off your bookshelves!

- Some manga and my Alice in Wonderland collection.

- Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare shelves.


- Contemporary (and some adult stand-alones in the corner).

- Completed series.


- Completed series.


- Completed series, incomplete series, YA stand-alones.

- Classics and nonfiction.

- Sarah Shephard, Lemony Snicket and J.R.R. Tolkein novels, as well as some Middle grade books.

- My Harry Potter collection.

- TBR.

- TBR.

- TBR.

What's on your shelves?

BoB 16: Day One!

Bout of Books 16 has begun! I am so excited to be participating again.

» Day One Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

Though I am not usually a fan of contemporary, I am really digging the Sci Fi elements to this story!

▫ Challenges I participated in:

Describe Yourself in Six Words challenge:

» Day One Stats: «

# of hours read: 1
# of pages read: 47
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 1

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▫ Total: 

Hours: 1

Pages: 47

Books Completed: 0

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 16: TBR

Bout of Books 16 begins tomorrow! In anticipation of the read-a-thon, I figured I would go ahead and post my TBR, tentative as it is. I will be reading three books throughout the course of the week, each of which have already been started.

▫ Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre: I am only about 73 pages into this one so far, and it will probably be my priority this week, as I really need to get it read and reviewed.

▫ A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab: I started this book when it was released back in February, but my poorly timed reading slump has kept me from picking it back up. I am over halfway through, though, so I am hoping that reading a few pages throughout this next week will get me closer to finally finishing it. I am really enjoying what I have read so far, so I doubt I will take me much longer because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, EVERYONE HAS BEEN FREAKING OUT, OMG.

▫ Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: Again, I picked this book up a few weeks ago, during my reading slump, and never finished it. I am almost a hundred pages in, though, and am really intrigued by the concept so far, so hopefully I can get a bit farther before the read-a-thon ends and form an actual, proper opinion.



What will you guys be reading?

Bout of Books 16

It's that time again!

"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"

I will absolutely be participating. See you there?