Document Your Life | Summer 2016

September TBR!

August Wrap-up!

Work and school have taken over my life! I am so far behind on watching videos and leaving/replying to comments, but I promise I will get back into the groove soon! The only aspect of my life that hasn't suffered, apparently, is my reading.

Bout of Books 17: Day Seven!

» Day Seven Recap: «

▫ What I read:

Refresh Refresh by Benjamin Percy

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

I read this short story for my fiction writing class, so I am going to refrain from rating or commenting on it too much. It was definitely interesting!

▫ Challenges I participated in:

NONE

» Day Seven Stats: «

# of hours read: .5
# of pages read: 11
# of books completed: 1 (short story)
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 15

Pages: 1.082

Books Completed: 3 (plus one short story)

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 17: Day Six!

» Day Six Recap: «

▫ What I read:

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

The ending to this series was just as good as I remembered! I had lots of time to read on day six, so finishing this book was relatively easy. Gripping, fast-paced, action-packed and fun, I absolutely love the Percy Jackson series and I don't need an Oracle to know that there will be many, many PJO rereads in my future.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

NONE

» Day Six Stats: «

# of hours read: 3.5
# of pages read: 272
# of books completed: 1
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 14.5

Pages: 1,071

Books Completed: 3

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 17: Day Five!

» Day Five Recap: «

▫ What I read:

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

I meant to pick up A Gathering of Shadows, I honestly did, but I have been on such a big Percy Jackson kick recently, and I didn't want to make myself fall into another reading slump by picking up a book I wasn't in the mood to read. I am very, very excited to be reading The Last Olympian again as it is probably my favorite book in the series (tied with The Lightning Thief).

▫ Challenges I participated in:

NONE

» Day Five Stats: «

# of hours read: 2
# of pages read: 109
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 11

Pages: 799
Books Completed: 2

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 17: Day Four!

» Day Four Recap: «

▫ What I read:

▫ Thoughts on the book(s) so far:

I finished Battle of the Labyrinth yesterday! Because I did not remember much of the plot, rereading it was actually like picking it up for the very first time. I very much enjoyed seeing more of the characters and witnessing development and small moments that I had completely forgotten about. On to the fifth and final book!

I also managed to read about sixteen pages of The Lie that Tells a Truth, which is a guide to fiction writing that I have been assigned to read for one of the classes I am taking this term. It's really interesting so far; I hope the advice and exercises continue to give me inspiration going forward!

▫ Challenges I participated in:

NONE

» Day Four Stats: «

# of hours read: 2.5
# of pages read: 215
# of books completed: 1
# of challenges completed: 0

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

▫ Total:

Hours: 9

Pages: 690

Books Completed: 2

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 17: Day Two!

» Day Two Recap: «

▫ What I read:

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

I completed The Titan's Curse on day two, and it was just as good as I remembered! This series will forever have a special place in my heart, and I love going back to read them over and over again. 5/5 stars. It was a very exciting, fast read. Though I had planned to pick up another books after TTC, I ended up picking up the next book in the series, The Battle of the Labyrinth instead.

▫ Challenges I participated in:

NONE

» Day Two Stats: «

# of hours read: 2.5
# of pages read: 175
# of books completed: 1
# of challenges completed: 0

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▫ Total:

Hours: 4.5

Pages: 374

Books Completed: 1

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books: Day One!

» Day One Recap: «

▫ What I read:

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

▫ Thoughts on the book so far:

This is a reread, so my thoughts are basically the same as they were years ago, when I first picked up this series. Percy is amazing, as always, and I really love getting back into this world and following his adventures once again!

▫ Challenges I participated in:

1. Book-to-Movie Adaptations

» Day One Stats: «

# of hours read: 2
# of pages read: 199
# of books completed: 0
# of challenges completed: 1

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▫ Total:

Hours: 2

Pages: 199

Books Completed: 0

Challenges Completed: 1

Bout of Books 17 TBR!

Bout of Books is almost here!

I am not quite sure how much reading I will be able to do this coming week - I am currently working full-time and am in the running for a supervising position that I should *hopefully* find out about this week, so the stress is real - but I have chosen a few books to pick up anyway!

Bout of Books 17 TBR

1. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab: I started reading this book in February and an ill-timed reading slump (aren't they all?) made reading anything at the time very, very difficult. When I put it down, I was about halfway though the book, so I am hoping to finally pick it up this week and finish it, particularly because I was really enjoying it before the slump.

2. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan: As I am sure you know by now, a 2016 reading goal of mine was to reread the Percy Jackson series. I am currently ready to begin book three and since these are such quick reads, I should have no problem finishing this one as well!

3. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis: An unofficial reading goal was to read the Chronicles of Narnia series. I haven't been working on this one much, to be honest, but each story is relatively short (about a hundred pages or so), so if I have the time, I will probably pick up this one as well unless I get distracted by something else.

Are you participating on Bout of Books 17? What are you planning on reading? I think I may vlog my progress this time, so keep a look out for that! Good luck!!

2016 Reading Goals [check in]

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

Books read: 18/25
Pages read: 6,299
Goals completed: 3/6

1. Read 25 books: I already knocked out 18 books toward this goal, so I am sure I will be able to complete 25 by September or October. I find it a little sad that it has taken me so much of the year just to complete 18 books when, in 2014, I was easily able to meet a goal of 70, but my reading slumps and busy work schedule has made reading that many books a bit unrealistic.


2. Read three books that have been on my physical TBR shelf for at least six months: This goal used to be one that I struggled the most with but, for some reason, I kicked this challenge's butt this year. So far, I have read eight books toward this goal, and I anticipate that the number will keep growing throughout the second half of 2016.


3. Reread three books (not including Percy Jackson): I did awesome with this goal as well, completing it in the first four months of the year. I am fairly certain I will be rereading the first two Harry Potter books at the end of the summer but, other than that, I am not yet sure if any other books will go toward this challenge.


4. Finish five series/trilogies: As of a few days ago, I have been able to finish three series, so I have no doubt I will be able to complete this goal within the next few months as well.


5. Reread the Percy Jackson series: So far, I have only reread The Lightning Thief, so I definitely need to step up my game and make it a point to pick up the others before the year comes to an end. I should be okay, since there are only four books left; I've told myself not to panic unless I have made no progress with this goal by October.


6. Listen to an audiobook: I listened to my first audio book in March! It is not something I will make a habit of doing, particularly because I found it very difficult to find time to listen to it, but it was definitely an interesting experience and I can see the appeal.

How are you guys doing on your 2016 reading goals?

Top Ten Tuesday [June 14]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they update their blog with a list of ten things that have to do with a predetermined topic.



This week's topic is: Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

May Wrap-up & June TBR

May, in Photographs

This month I explored a park, my mom and I stumbled across a beautiful wooded part of our town, and I finally created a Snapchat!

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

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