Bout of Books 11 [Progress]

Instead of doing seven individual updates, I have decided to combine my progress from the week into one, convenient post:



[ Day One ]

▫ Began (re)reading Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
▫ Completed the Book Scavenger Hunt challenge

# of hours read on Day One: about 2.5 (total = 2.5)
# of pages read on Day One: 143 (total = 143)
# of books read on Day One: 0 (total =0)
# of challenges completed on Day One: 1 (total =1)


[ Day Two ]

▫ Completed (re)reading Between the Devil ad the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
▫ Completed the One True Pairing challenge

# of hours read on Day Two: about 3.5 (total = 6)
# of pages read on Day Two: 217 (total = 360)
# of books read on Day Two: 1 (total = 1)
# of challenges completed on Day Two: 1 (total = 2)


[ Day Three ]

▫ Began reading Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

# of hours read on Day Three: about 2.5 hours (total = 8.5)
# of pages read on Day Three: 126 (total = 486)
# of books read on Day Three: 0 (total = 1)
# of challenges completed on Day Three: 0 (total = 2)


[ Day Four ]

▫ Continued reading Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

# of hours read on Day Four: about 15 minutes (total = 8.75)
# of pages read on Day Four: 9 (total = 495)
# of books read on Day Four: 0 (total = 1)
# of challenges completed on Day Four: 0 (total = 2)


[ Day Five ]

▫ Completed reading Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

# of hours read on Day Five: about 3.5 (total = 12.25)
# of pages read on Day Five: 185 (total = 680)
# of books read on Day Five: 1 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Five: 0 (total = 2)


[ Day Six ]

▫ Began reading Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

# of hours read on Day Six: about 1 (total = 13.25)
# of pages read on Day Six: 39 (total = 719)
# of books read on Day Six: 0 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Six: 0 (total = 2)


[ Day Seven ]

▫ Continued reading Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
▫ Completed the Five Books challenge

# of hours read on Day Seven: about 3 (total = 16.25)
# of pages read on Day Seven: 153 (total = 872)
# of books read on Day Seven: 0 (total = 2)
# of challenges completed on Day Seven: 1 (total = 3)

Bout of Books 10: Day seven/wrap-up

☆☆☆☆





On day seven I began reading Six Earlier days, the prequel novella to Every Day by David Levithan.

After finishing Every Day, I was in the mood for more stories told from A's unique point-of-view. This novella was not very long, and was the only thing I read on the final day of the read-a-thon. Overall, I am pretty happy with my progress, considering there were two days in which I was too busy/exhausted to do much reading. I had a ton of fun participating in the challenges, getting to know the other members, and discovering new books that I would have otherwise put off reading, had it not been for this event. I deem this week a success!

» Progress...
 
▫ Began and completed Six Earlier Days by David Levithan (total books = 2.5)
▫ Read for about 1 hour (total = 17)
▫ Read 47 pages (total = 726)
▫ Completed the Retitle Your Current Read Challenge at Oh Magic Hour

» Challenges...
Retitle Your Current Read

In which we retitled the book(s) we were currently reading. Here is my entry:

"I am currently reading Every Day by David Levithan and I think I would rename it "Levithan Rips Your Heart Out and Dances on the Pieces," because really. However, a more serious choice might be: "The Dangers of Possibility," as What If?s and their potential to make or ruin a life and/or person played a huge part in this story."

. . . . 

Another Bout of Books has come and gone. How did you guys do? Discover any new books I should know about?

Bout of Books 10: Day six

☆☆☆☆

On day six, I knuckled down and finally finished Every Day by David Levithan.

This book ripped my heart out and tore it to pieces. And I loved it. The conclusion was definitely not what I was expecting—I tend to have a love/hate relationship with open-endings—but I really felt like it stayed true to the message(s) that Levithan was trying to convey about love, friendship and identifying oneself in the face of perpetual inconsistency.

» Progress...

▫ Completed Every Day by David Levithan (total books = 2)
▫ Read for about 4 hours (total = 16)
▫ Read 184 pages (total = 679)
▫ Completed the Show an Author Some Love Challenge at Doing Dewey

» Challenges...
Show an Author Some Love

For this challenge, we were asked to list some authors that we believe are deserving of a little more love on Twitter. Here were my choices:

"Alexandra Bracken: Even thought Bracken is already fairly popular online, she is extremely funny, quirky, real and down-to-earth, and I love seeing her tweets on my timeline. Definitely add her if you are a fan of her Darkest Minds trilogy.

Michelle Hodkin: If you love Hodkin's books, then you will definitely want to have her updates within reach. She is always answering questions, posting snippets and fanart and generally being a lovely person; completely deserving of ALL THE FOLLOWERS!

April Genevieve Tucholke: Tucholke's tweets reflect her writing: gothic and unconventional; qualities of which I am a HUGE fan. A relatively new author, her following is not quite as impressive as some of the others out there on the internet and, after reading Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I definitely think she deserves some more recognition."

. . . .

Less than 24 hours until the end of Bout of Books 10. Good luck!!

Bout of Books 10: Days four & five

Author: David Levithan
Series: Every Day #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Pages: 322
Format: Paperback
Average Rating: 4.0



Unfortunately, day four did not see much progress, reading-wise. I began Every Day by David Levithan and only made it about thirty pages in before calling it quits and ending the day early. Day five was not much better. However, I did manage to complete one challenge!

Now that I am well-rested and have the entire weekend free for reading, I am hoping to finish Every Day and it's prequel novella, Six Earlier Days, before the end of the read-a-thon.

» Progress...

▫ Began reading Every Day by David Levithan
▫ Read for about 2.5 hours (total = 12)
▫ Read 138 pages (total = 495)
▫ Completed the Rainbow Book Challenge at Neon Yeti Reads

» Challenges...
Rainbow Book Challenge

For this challenge, we were asked to create a rainbow of books! Here was my entry:

◦ The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
◦ Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
◦ Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
◦ Wonder by R.J. Palacio
◦ Insurgent by Veronica Roth
◦ The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
◦ The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
◦ Half Bad by Sally Green
◦ The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Baraswell

. . . . 

Two days left, guys. Happy reading!

Bout of Books 10: Day three

☆☆☆☆

On day three, I finished reading The Unbound by Victoria Schwab. And it. Was. FABULOUS.

I completed by first book! Hopefully I can manage another 1-2 before the read-a-thon's end. In the meantime, I think my stride/reading are progressing nicely - albeit, a little average.

» Progress...

▫ Completed The Unbound by Victoria Schwab (total books = 1)
▫ Read for about 3.5 hours (total = 9.5)
▫ Read 119 pages (total = 357)
▫ Completed the Book Pairings challenge at My Overstuffed Shelves

» Challenges...
Book Pairings

For this challenge, we were asked to pair a book with something that compliments it; whether it be another book, a physical object, food, drink, a person, or place. I chose my current read, The Unbound. Here is my entry:

"This is the kind of book you enjoy whilst cocooned within a blanket, sipping some sort of hot drink. It is eerie and beautiful, and those are always great on a cold day (which, here in Ohio, we are still experiencing...)."

. . . . 

See you on day four!

Bout of Books 10: Day two

Author: Victoria Schwab
Series: The Archived #2
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Average Rating: 4.43



On day two, I continued reading The Unbound by Victoria Schwab.

Once again, a meeting kept me from getting much reading done at work. However, I did manage to almost match my progress from day one, so I would not call the beginning of this week a total fail. :D


» Progress...
 
▫ Continued reading The Unbound by Victoria Schwab
▫ Read for about 3 hours (total = 6)
▫ Read 117 pages (total = 238)
▫ Completed the Books You're Looking Forward To challenge at River City Reading

» Challenges...

Books You're Looking Forward To

This challenge was also pretty self-explanatory. You list the books you are most looking forward to reading. Here is my entry:

"After much consideration—seriously, I did not realize just how many upcoming publications I am looking forward to—I have created a (painfully) short list of my to-be-released "Must Have"s:

1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
2. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
3. Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke
4. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
5. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
6. In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

And here are a few that are currently on my physical TBR shelf that I would really, really like to pick up soon:

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
2. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
3. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness"

. . . . 

I definitely plan on finishing my first book tomorrow, on day three. How are you guys doing? Anyone finish anything yet?

Bout of Books 10: Day one

Author: Victoria Schwab
Series: The Archived #2
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Average Rating: 4.43

On day one I read The Unbound by Victoria Schwab, the second book in the Archived series. 

I am pretty sure Schwab has become one of my new favorite authors, and these books a new obsession. They are breathtaking; full of beautiful characters, scenarios and scenes that are both eerie and incredible. I had to force myself to read another book while I waited for this one in the mail, and I am absolutely delighted that it will be my first read of the Bout of Books read-a-thon. Unfortunately, day one's progress was a little slow—due to lack of reading time—but I definitely plan on making it up later.

» Progress...

▫ Began reading The Unbound by Victoria Schwab
▫ Read for about 3 hours
▫ Read 121 pages
▫ Completed the If You Like X, Try Y challenge at The Book Barbies

» Challenges...

If You Like X, Try Y

This challenge is pretty self-explanatory. You choose a certain type of book and/or author and then give a few examples of works that are similar; whether they be from the same genre, author, or posses the same qualities as your original choice. Here is my entry:

"If you like John Green and Rainbow Rowell, try Robyn Schneider. Her book, The Beginning of Everything, possesses many of the qualities I adore in both Green and Rowell's books; a dry, crass sense of humor, clever wit/sarcasm, and amazing characters that you cannot help but fall in love with.

If you like Twilight, try the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Paranormal romance with an intense plot and mortal/other character attraction.

If you like Sarah Dessen, try Sarah Ockler. Both are contemporary authors who favor writing books that posses a little extra bit of depth that I, personally, find very refreshing.

If you like creepy, physiological thrillers with a bit of romance, try The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin."

. . . . 

I cannot believe it is already day two! These things go by way too fast. How is it going, fellow participants?