Bout of Books 21

Well, I'm not starting 2018 in the organized way I would like. I completely forgot about signing up for Bout of Books 21 so I'm doing it now, partly into day 1 of reading!

"The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week-long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th 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 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog." - From the Bout of Books team.

I've just started a new book so will count that as the 1st book of the challenge and I'll be posting on Instagram mostly, with short updates on here (when I remember...)

Progress

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#BoutOfBooks 19 SignUp

Yes, it's that time again so this is me signing up for what I think is my 13th Bout of Books. I kind of glossed over the last two and the one before that gave up about halfway through but I'm feeling good about reading after a great Dewey #readathon at the weekend! Go here to join the bookish fun for yourself!

As for what I'm reading? I shall carry on with the pile I made for the #readathon but add a couple of review titles that I'm desperate to read!

Let me know if you're joining in too, I'd love to hear about what you might read!

Bookmarked... #23

The return of the (mostly) weekly post letting you all know what I'm reading and have lined up for the week! It's my own version of Sheila at Book Journey's It's Monday What Are You Reading (now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date) and I have her permission to rename it for my own nefarious reasons...

More great reading this week along with a really disappointing read, one that I was so excited to read but turned out not to hit the mark. It's Bout of Books this week so I have a fantastic stack of books lined up including 4 more of the Fables collections and some middle grade reading too. I'll be updating via Instagram and Twitter for the first 2 days as I'm away but will then update on the blog after that.

Finished

Still Reading

Started

Bout Of Books 17

Hurrah! It's that time again and I can't believe 3 months has passed by just like that. This is me signing up for what I think is my 12th Bout of Books, even though the first 2 days I'm not at home.. Go here to join the bookish fun yourself!

Bout Of Books 16 Updates

Welcome to my Bout of Books 16 update post! Rather than have lots of small daily posts I shall just update this one every day with my progress (or lack of) and any challenges I may do.

Goals

• Read at least 7 books over 7 days
• Participate in social stuff - Twitter, commenting etc.

Progress Report

Day 1

I am so behind with everything in real life just now that reading and blogging seems to have taken a back seat. I managed to read a fabulous middle grade book today, The Windvale Sprites by Mackenzie Crook - yes, that Mackenzie Crook, the actor from The Detectorists etc. No socializing though and still haven't done the 'introduce yourself in six words' thing.

Today's Read(s): The Windvale Sprites - Mackenzie Crook
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 203
Total number of books read: 1
Total number of pages read: 203

Day 2

Today was a day of frustration, Blogger wasn't working properly and of course it was my stop on a blog tour so I was not in the best of moods. I also had the opticians, eye test and choosing prescription sunglasses ready pour mes vacances en France at the end of the month!

Today's Read(s): The Girl With A Clock For A Heart - Peter Swanson
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 333
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 536

Day 3

I wasn't well today so the thought of doing anything but going to bed after finishing work was not appealing. I was only briefly online to try and sort out a blog post which hadn't posted thanks to Blogger and that was it! As for reading I decided to pick up possibly the biggest, heaviest book on my TBR pile and read about 100 pages.

Today's Read(s): Aeronaut's Windlass - Jim Butcher
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 105
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 1625

Day 4

Much improved but still not 100% so curled up in bed for most of the day. Aeronaut's Windlass was just too heavy to keep reading in bed so I picked up a psychological thriller by Carol Goodman and devoured the whole thing!

Today's Read(s): River Road - Carol Goodman
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 360
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1985

Day 5

Ill again but not too ill that I couldn't read, curled up in bed most of the day with a stack of library books. I started about five different books and eventually kept going with The Edge Of Nowhere by Elizabeth George.

Today's Read(s): The Edge Of Nowhere - Elizabeth George
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 496
Total number of books read: 4
Total number of pages read: 2481
 
Day 6

Today's Read(s): Daddy Dearest - Paul Southern
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 245
Total number of books read: 5
Total number of pages read: 2726

Day 7

Today's Read(s):  Reckless - Cornelia Funke
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 344
Total number of books read: 6
Total number of pages read: 3070 

Bout of Books 16

It's that time again!!! Bout of Books 16 starts tomorrow and I'm signing up for my tenth (I think, I've completely lost track) attempt. If all goes to plan BoB 16 should be a blast! Join in here... Hopefully this signup post post will appear as scheduled otherwise I won't be signed up!

Bookmarked... #11

The return of the (mostly) weekly post letting you all know what I'm reading and have lined up for the week! It's my own version of Sheila at Book Journey's It's Monday What Are You Reading (now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date) and I have her permission to rename it for my own nefarious reasons...

It was Bout of Books 15 last week and all in, a great week of reading! I finished up my final book yesterday evening and was really pleased to meet my target of reading 7 books over 7 days. I didn't meet my social targets though as my anxiety has been through the roof recently and I've had a few panic attacks. Over Christmas and New Year I got some great reading done too, I read all of Em's books that she got for Christmas plus a couple from my sister's shelves. I still don't have my replacement Kindle, hopefully it will turn up in the next week or so.

Bout Of Books Reading

Currently Reading

Bout Of Books 15 Daily Updates

Welcome to my Bout of Books 15 update post! Rather than have lots of small daily posts I shall just update this one every day with my progress (or lack of) and any challenges I may do.

Goals

• Read 7 books over 7 days
• Participate in social stuff - Twitter, commenting etc.

Progress Report

Day 1

Day 1 started off looking after the twins and ended after a long train journey back home. I was very proud of myself though for finishing my first book and replying to some messages on Twitter while trying to stay awake on the train!

Today's Read(s): The Seventh Bride - T Kingfisher
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 183
Total number of books read: 183
Total number of pages read: 183

Day 2

Back to the everyday routine today after Christmas/New Year break and straight back into a mound of paperwork and assorted other mundane jobs. I didn't think I'd have much time to read never mind anything else but I managed to fit in some contemporary fluff. That was it though, I don't think I even managed to look at Twitter never mind tweet!

Today's Read(s): The Christmas Surprise
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 382
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 565

Day 3

A hospital day today so wandering attention! I picked up and started 3 books, read more of some than others and contemplated starting another... No socializing as no signal at all in the hospital and no challenge :(

Today's Read(s): The Chill of Night - James Hayman, Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer - Derek Landy, Deadly Curiosities - Gail Z Martin
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 505
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 1070

Day 4

Not much of anything done today but I did manage to finish one book, Death Bringer, from the Skulduggery Pleasant series which I'm loving more with every book. By the time I got home I was too tired to do anything except read a few more pages and then watch old episodes of Criminal Minds...

Today's Read(s): Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer - Derek Landy, The Chill Of Night - James Hayman, Deadly Curiosities - Gail Z Martin
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 450
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1520

Day 5

Bad day today, biggest panic attack I've had in a long time so was pretty much out of it from about 4pm onward with no reading done. I did however manage to finish The Chill Of Night in the morning in between sporadic bouts of work - no pun intended!

Today's Read(s): The Chill Of Night - James Hayman, Deadly Curiosities - Gail Z Martin
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 366
Total number of books read: 4
Total number of pages read: 1886

Day 6

It's got much colder here over the last couple of days so I spent most of the day curled up with a blanket, book and a large cup of tea! The only time I wasn't reading was when my niece & nephew came over to deliver our invitation to his wedding in April. I've now read 6 books so hopefully I'll meet one of my two goals for the week and that was to read 7 books in 7 days. As usual I've been a complete fail on the socialization front but between work, panic attacks and sheer exhaustion I just haven't been able to do it.

Today's Read(s): Deadly Curiosities - Gail Z Martin, Thirteen Chairs - Dave Shelton
Number of books I’ve read today: 2
Number of pages I’ve read today: 481
Total number of books read: 6
Total number of pages read: 2367

Day 7

Last day and I made my reading target!!!

Today's Read(s): Neversuch House: Mask Of The Evergones - Elliot Skell
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 384
Total number of books read: 7
Total number of pages read: 2751

Bout Of Books 15

Yes, it's that time again!!! Bout of Books 15 is nearly here and I'm signing up for my fifth sixth seventh ninth(?) attempt! If all goes to plan  BoB 15 should be a blast! Join in here...

Bout of Books 14 Daily Progress

It's that time again! This is my ninth Bout of Books and, I'm hoping, my most productive! No specific goals but I do want to make a significant dent in my Jar of Shame. If I can read a book day I will be ecstatic but I'll be happy with five.

Day 1 and the internet went down. Always happens, without fail, every single time I do Bout of Books.

Day 2 was mostly spent either at the hospital having tests done or having the biggest nap ever...

Day 3 and I'm having trouble... I've been picking up books left, right and center but nothing (except Kate Elliott's Court of Fives) is holding my attention. I'm definitely suffering from some sort of Bookish Attention Disorder a.k.a. BAD!

Day 4 was a good day for reading

Day 5 was spent at the hospital having tests and napping. Again... I've also veered away from my Netgalley/Edelweiss books that I was meant to be reading this week for ARC August. My concentration has been bad...

Day 6 was mostly spent watching Netflix or napping!

Daily Challenges

Ooops, day 6 and I've yet to do a single challenge!

Daily Progress

Monday August 17th:

Today's Read(s): Becoming Death - Melissa Brown, Starborn - Lucy Hounsom, Lorali - Laura Dockrill
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 180
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read:180

Tuesday August 18th:

Today's Read(s): Becoming Death - Melissa Brown, Lorali - Laura Dockrill
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 190
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read:  370

Wednesday August 19th:

Today's Read(s): Court of Fives - Kate Elliott, Becoming Death - Melissa Brown
Number of books I’ve read today: 190
Number of pages I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read: 560

Thursday August 20th:

Today's Read(s): Neversuch House - Elliot Skell, Mountwood School For Ghosts - Toby Ibbotson, Codex Born - Jim C Hines
Number of books I’ve read today: 2
Number of pages I’ve read today: 584
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 1144

Friday August 21st:

Today's Read(s): Codex Born - Jim C Hines
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 260
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1404

Saturday August 22nd:

Today's Read(s): First Class Murder - Robin Stevens
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 200
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1604

Sunday August 23rd:

 Today's Read(s):
Number of books I’ve read today:
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Bout of Books 14 SignUp!

Yep, it's that time again folks! Bout of Books 14 is nearly upon us so here's my sign-up post, keep your fingers crossed that I actually get to read/join in this time. I'm pretty certain BoB 13 was a washout in the end...

Click here to sign up if you too want to join in the bookish madness!

Bout of Books 13

Hurrah! Barely recovered from the after-effects of the Dewey Read-a-thon we get Bout of Books to do the same thing again but this time for a whole week! And of course I'm signing up although I think I'm away for three of the seven days so updates should be fun :)

If you want to take part, sign-ups are open here!

Bout of Books 12 Day 7 & Final RoundUp

The final day of BoB 12 is here and for the first time I feel more than satisfied about my reading and my challenge participation. The socializing? Not so much... Funny isn't it that I've been blogging for three years and still can't get round my crippling shyness. Maybe next time :)

I'm reading my final Bout of Books choice

mostly because I've been trying to sort out at least one set of shelves in my house and I found this tucked away at the back. It fits my criteria for my TBR Pile challenge and it's definitely one that can be donated to the library later this month.

Progress on Day 12

Number of pages I've read today: 352
Total number of pages read: 2559
Number of books read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 9

Final RoundUp

I read 9 books, took part in 5 challenges and won a challenge too! I didn't set any goals for myself, I didn't pick out any books beforehand and I didn't stress about making time to read. Admittedly, being ill means I've had far more time than I probably would have to read. Being awake most nights coughing means I was
reading quite a bit in the middle of the night so flu does have its plus points!

What I Read

Now I can't wait for Bout of Books 13 in May! See you then :) 

Bout of Books 12 Day 6

 

Day 6 of Bout of Books 12 and rather than slowing down on my reading, as I thought yesterday, I had a sleepless night so decided to read

No pun intended! I finished it about 5am and picked up The Lottery and Other Stories to read (part of my Shirley Jackson reread this year). I might put that to one side though as I want to take my time and pick up either the Jodi Picoult or Elly Griffiths books I have from the library which need to go back next week.

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 400
Total number of pages read: 2207
Number of books read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 8

Challenges

Literary Quote Challenge hosted by Gone with the Words

I love this opening paragraph of The Lottery because it makes everything seem so innocuous and nobody has any idea of what's about to happen

 

Bout of Books 12 Day 5

Day 5 of Bout of Books and I think I'm finally starting to run out of steam! I'm really pleased with how much I've read though, seven books is pretty outstanding so anything else over the last couple of days will be a bonus. One book again today and a challenge (only just) as I had to do lots of grown-up and mundane things.

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 288
Total number of pages read: 1807
Number of books read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 7

Challenge

Describe Your Book in Pictures hosted by The Book Monsters 

 Severed Heads, Broken Hearts in pictures! I could have gone the gruesome route but didn't really want bloody severed heads hanging around...
 

Bout of Books 12 Day 4

Day 4 of Bout of Books and we're just over halfway through. I'm really pleased how things are progressing, I'm getting in a decent amount of reading every day and I'm managing to check out a few blogs too - apart from yesterday when I had a doozy of a panic attack out of the blue. It was all I could do to pick up a book even an hour later and the thought of turning the computer on was too much.

I managed to read one book and about half the short stories in an anthology so happy with that. Today I'll be trying to visit some blogs and catching up with everybody.

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 240
Total number of pages read: 1519
Number of books read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 6

Challenges
No challenges for me today :(

Bout of Books 12 Day 3

Bout of Books day 3 and so far, so good! Yesterday was a great day and I managed to finish two books! Okay, one of them only had 120 pages but still. I'm actually doing much better this time round now that I'm not trying to stick to a goals post, I've read more and I've socialized a bit more too. This is obviously the way to go, for me anyway :) Not sure what I'm going to read today but before I can start I've got boring, mundane things to do again...

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 346
Total number of pages read: 1279
Number of books read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 5

Challenge

Character Coupling Challenge - hosted by Writing My Own Fairy Tale

Will Stanton & Harry Potter

I decided to put Will & Harry together, as best friends, because they're both expected to 'save the world' so to speak and as both involve magic Harry wouldn't have to hide the fact he's a wizard!

Bout of Books 12 Day 2

Bout of Books day 2 and I've yet to pick up a book as I've had to get all the boring stuff like hanging out laundry, ironing and making beds done. I'm about to stop for lunch and then it's time to read. I haven't quite decided what yet, I did think about Shadow Study (squeee) but I think I want to reread Fire Study first and of course my copy is nowhere to be seen. Will have lunch and decide then :) Made my mind up and gone with

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 433
Total number of pages read: 933
Number of books read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 3

Challenge

Top 10 Recommendations hosted by Trees of Reverie

Imagine you've just started working at a bookstore or library (no need for imagination there!) and recommend ten books to read.

My recommendations! A bit of everything - YA, Middle Grade, Adult, Gothic, Classic, Modern Classic, Classic Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy. Having read them all I'm pretty sure that any of these would be a good stepping stone if someone didn't know where to start (and these are the books I try to push a lot anyway!)

Bout of Books 12 Day 1 Update

Hurrah! It's Bout of Books time! Although I'll be honest and admit that I only remembered yesterday afternoon...

I started my BoB just after midnight by managing 25 pages of

followed by the longest uninterrupted sleep I've had in a long time! I've been grocery shopping this morning so I have lots of salad and food that doesn't require much cooking along with some snacks and a caramel macchiato. I've got to book some travel tickets and then the rest of the afternoon is mine for reading, well until about 5.30pm.

Progress

Number of pages I've read today: 500
Number of books read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 1
 
Challenges

Bookish Scavenger Hunt

 Find a book with the following criteria on a bookshelf:

1. Find an author with the same initials as you - Not done, authors with FC anyone?  
2. Find a book with the color yellow on it - Dead Ever After
3. Find an author’s name with the letter “S” in it - Cassandra Clare
4. Find a book with a female protagonist - Cinder
5. Find the longest book you own - A Game of Thrones
6. Find a book with a map in it or on it - Maps
7. Find a book with a face on it (photograph or illustrated) - The Liar's Chair
 

Bonus: Find something on your shelf that isn’t a book.

Face cream, my Hobbit quote postcard and my giggling kritter all live on the bookshelves above my desk, along with various other bits & bobs!

Bout of Books 12

Yes, it's that time again!!! Bout of Books 11 is nearly here and I'm signing up for my fifth sixth seventh(?) attempt! If all goes to plan and I'm following my new super organized blog schedule then BoB 12 should be a blast, if I'm not then it could be a disaster like the last two Bouts of Books!

If you feel like taking part too, sign up here!