Bout of Books 16 Update

I am happy to say that during this week's read-a-thon I found success! It's always so hit or miss, but Bout of Books 16 coincided with a particularly hard week and I escaped to my books every night. It felt wonderful.

Sunday the 8th found me in the middle of two books, Anything by Jennie Allen and That's Not English by Erin Moore. Both of these have reviews on the horizon, so I won't say much here except that they're both of the nonfiction variety. Between Sunday and Tuesday (Monday had a late, extended meeting), I finished both of them off.

Wednesday found me reading Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst. I've enjoyed TerKeurst's books in the past and her contributions to Proverbs 31 Women's Ministry as well. Again the nonfiction kick. My nonfiction lately definitely has a theme...searching. I made it 60% through this book before Bout of Books officially ended yesterday. Much of it was read sitting for three hours in the comfy chair at my local B&N Friday night. I have got to do that more often!

And after passing them around to a few people, my Miss Peregrine's trilogy came back to me and I dug into the last one, Library of Souls. I was proctoring state tests and electronics are not allowed. Since all of my current grading and school work is online, that left me with only the choice of an actual book to read...darn, right? Should have it done with this week I think.

Throughout the week I also reread much of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. My Honors English 11 class chose it as the novel to finish off our school year and I have to say I am liking it more than the first time I read it years ago. Age and experience goes far toward the reread of a novel.

And it's always a good Bout of Books when you have a Twitter Chat to brighten the day. I only made it to Saturday's, but found great bookish people and conversation, as well as more people to follow. Bout of Books 16 was a success. Thanks to all who set it up and participate.

Bout of Books 16

This is my official sign up post, cause it's here again, Bout of Books 16! It happens three times a year, but the spring happening of Bout of Books every year is my favorite! It's the one where I actually get a good amount of reading done. It's always fun to see people's plans for making the most of their reading time as well as the locations and snacks they prefer. The events, giveaways, and Twitter parties are fun too. And not that we need an excuse, but it helps to push aside responsibilities for the sake of a read-a-thon.

If you've never heard of Bout of Books, here's the official blurb: 

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


Hope to see you on the blogs and Twitter next week!

Bout of Books 15

It's that time again! I'm not sure how many Bout of Books I've officially participated in (written a post like this and linked it up), but it's been three or four now. The January Bout of Books is my favorite because I'm in the reading mode from a Christmas break of reading and work isn't crazy and interfering!

So clearly, I love Bout of Books (especially the Twitter chats) and intend to participate. Should you? If you've never participated, check out this blurb from the Bout of Books team, filling you in on some details.

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, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th 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 15 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

So if you love to read and others need an excuse for you to do so excessively, here's your chance. Visit the Bout of Books link in the blurb and find the various ways you can sign up and participate. Hope to see you around the blogs in 2016!

Bout of Books 13 Update

For a number of reasons, mostly to do with time, I decided to write an overall update post instead of numerous posts throughout the week. So here was my week of Bout of Books 13.

Monday 5/11: Participated in the Twitter chat, which is always a good time. It helped that my iPad kept up with the madness! The questions were really good and I met new book people. I began reading Man, the Dwelling Place of God by A.W Tozer. I'm reading this with a friend though, so only two chapters for this week.

Tuesday 5/12: Finished Travelogue of the Interior by Karen Dabaghian, wrote and posted my review of it. Received later in the day a wonderful email from both the author and the publisher. My review was used on the NetGalley title page of the book and David C. Cook Publisher gave me instant access to any future galleys. Spent the evening our for coffee with a friend.

Wednesday 5/13: Reading this evening was somewhat hampered because I watched Survivor - twice. Yay DVR. But earlier in the day I started reading Repeat by Neal Pollack. I also read a little more in Born Survivors by Wendy Holden.

Thursday 5/14: Ummm, yea, not much reading. Spent the morning at my daughter's academic honors breakfast and then five hours shopping for the best deal on a lease, to replace my husband's dead car. He ended up with a beautiful royal blue 2015 Chevy Cruze and a payment for under $200, with no money down...I was pretty excited. Spent the evening watching Season 2 of Survivor with a fellow Survivor fanatic friend...yes becoming slightly more obsessed. All are happy...except for no reading. 

Friday 5/15: Made progress on Repeat. It's getting interesting and I read almost 20% of the book today. Spent another evening with another friend, talking books and life. 

Saturday 5/16: Made a little more progress on both Repeat and Born Survivors. Spent the evening out with friends at a new Casino that opened locally. No, I don't have a gambling problem, I promise, first time ever at a casino. As soon as we recovered our $20 spending money (plus $8.50), we quit. We had a really nice dinner too.

Sunday 5/17: Church, lunch with my family, and took kids to Nitro Circus Live in Pittsburgh, which is a stunt bike show. Tickets were free from my brother, couldn't turn it down. So again, no reading.

Oh yea, and my pool is open...if only the weather would cooperate so we could swim. Overall, I finished one book, got halfway through a second, and a little further in a third. Not too bad considering I did a lot with individual friends and my family this week. Come on summer! Not counting today, we have 12 days left...and then let the serious reading commence.

Bout of Books 13

It's here! It's here! Bout of Books 13! The last couple read-a-thons have found me in the midst of so much work, but not this time. I've kept the schedule clear - I WILL be reading away all week long. Never heard of Bout of Books? Here's a quick blurb from the organizers themselves:

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 team

So, if you want to join, be eligible for prizes, and allow others to find you throughout the week, officially sign up! It's so much fun and an excuse to read (as if we need one)!