Bout of Books Update #7 & Wrap Up

I did it!  I finished all five graphic novels I had checked out from the library.  Woohoo!

Yesterday I finished off my fifth graphic novel (Morning Glories, Vol. 2: All will be free) and read a little bit in Landline as well.  I am totally obsessed with the Morning Glories series.  It's just so good.

I read a total of 158 pages yesterday.

I read a total of 727 pages over the course of Bout of Books.
I finished a total of 5 books.

I blew my last BoB total out of the water.  Interesting since last time Richard had the whole week off and this time he only had one day off.  We had a busy week but I made sure I made at least a little time to read each day and that made a huge difference.  I really enjoyed this round of BoB.

Bout of Books Update #6

I finished my fourth graphic novel yesterday (Morning Glories, Vol. 1: For a better future) which I loved, loved, loved!  Oh wow is it dark and twisted but I love it.  I started the second in the series (Morning Glories, Vol. 2: All will be free) as well.  I'm really hoping to finish this one by the end of Bout of Books.  Fingers crossed!

I read a total of 88 pages today for a total of 569 pages.

Bout of Book Update #5

I didn't finish a book today but I read in both Morning Glories and Landline by Rainbow Rowell, a book I had started awhile back and have been reading off and on.

I read a total of 122 pages today for a total of 481 pages.

Bout of Books Update #4

I finished my third graphic novel yesterday (The Woods) and I liked it a lot more than I thought it would.  It wasn't my normal kind of book and I almost gave up on it in the first few pages.  I'm glad I didn't as it was a perfect book to get lost in just when I needed it most.  I also started another graphic novel, Morning Glories, and finished the first volume.

I read a total of 101 pages today for a total of 359.

Bout of Books Update #3

We had a baseball game to go to tonight (Giants vs Astros) so didn't have much time to read.  I managed to read the second volume in The Woods.

I read 26 pages today for a total of 258 pages so far.

Bout of Books Update #2

I finished my second graphic novel yesterday (Blue Bloods) and I really liked it.  I have the book and I think I'm more likely to read it now.  The graphics were lovely as well.  I also started another graphic novel, The Woods, and finished the first volume.

I read a total of 79 pages today for a total of 232.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Authors I Want to  Meet

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.  I've read the responses by others for years but never taken part till now.

This week's topic is: Top ten authors I want to meet.

I've been lucky enough to get to meet quite a few authors (Charlaine Harris, Wendy Corsi Staub, Maureen Johnson, Susan Rogers Cooper), since I live close enough to an awesome bookstore in Houston who often has authors visit.  Murder by the Book is just fabulous and I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area.  Now back to the topic...

1. Faye Kellerman - Her Decker/Rina series is one of my all time favorites.

2. Laura Lippman - I fell in love with her books last year.  Funny and well written.

3. Michele Bardsley - Her Broken Heart series is a lot of fun.  Plus she's a hoot.

4. Mary Jane Clark - Her Key News series is one of my all time favorites.

5. Stephen King - The Stand is my all time favorite book and he's so interesting.

6. MaryJanice Davidson - Not only do I love her Betsy series I love her.  She cracks me up.

7. M.C. Beaton - I am a big fan of her Hamish Macbeth series.  The village and the characters come alive on the page.

8. Sarah Dessen - I read my first book by Sarah this year (which I really liked) and started following her on Twitter.  I really like her.

9. Louisa May Alcott - Little Women was such a huge book in my childhood.  I've seen every version of the movie and adore the book.  Plus she was so far ahead of her time in her way of thinking.

10. Laura Ingalls Wilder - Growing up I wanted to be Laura.  I read all the Little House books and as an adult I'm still fascinated by her.  My love of her is ingrained in who I am.

Interesting that all but one are women...

Bout of Books Update #1

I finished my first book yesterday and got half way through a second one, Blue Bloods.  It's been ages since I read a Deadpool book and I really enjoyed it.  They're funny but dark and twisted at the same time.

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I read a total of 153 pages yesterday.

Bout of Books - Bookish Survey

Bookish Survey

1. How do you organize your shelves?
I organize by genre, but also have two shelves for my favorites.  I keep the books I read for the current year on the top between bookends and at the end of the year I have a whole reorg of my shelves.

2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres?
Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels.  It's so not my normal kind of book but it completely drew me in.

3. What is the last 5 star book you read?
Lazarus, Vol. 2: Lift by Greg Rucka.  This series of graphic novels has me completely obsessed.  It's not my normal kind of read but I just love it.

4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon?
Night of the Living Deadpool by Cullen Bunn.  It's been years since I read a Deadpool book.

5. What book do you recommend the most?
It would have to be Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.  I even had my husband read it.

My Bout of Books TBR Pile

I decided I'm going to try and finish off the pile of graphic novels I got from the library, mostly left over from Dewey's RAT.  I have five, most of which I have never read anything in the series (Deadpool being the exception).  I'm flexible though and will see how the week goes but this is my starting point.

I'm taking part in Bout of Books!

This will be the second time I've taken part on Bout of Books and I'm really looking forward to it. Any excuse to read!  I don't have a specific goal for myself in mind (as the date gets closer maybe I will) just to spend more time reading.

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.

Reading My Library Update #2

I finished two more books in the Reading My Library Challenge and I'm happy to say I really liked them both.  Oddly enough they were both the second in a series.

End of Event Meme

All our books we read during the RAT

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  Probably hour three.  I am so not a morning person and the early wake up hit me hard.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?  I love graphic novels and Angel & Faith Vol. 2 is really good so far.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  Not from a management point of view but for myself, having a soccer game to attend the same day as a the RAT was hard.  My two great obsessions, books and soccer do not do well in competition with each other.  I wound up missing roughly 5 hours of the RAT.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?  The cheerleaders were amazing!  I got so much support and it really made the RAT that much more enjoyable.
5. How many books did you read?  I finished one that I had started before and read over half in another.
6. What were the names of the books you read?  The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson and Faith & Angel Vol. 2 : Daddy Issues by Christos Gage
7. Which book did you enjoy most?  Both were good in different ways
8. Which did you enjoy least?  Both were good in different ways
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?  I didn't cheer this year but was so impressed with the cheerleaders this year.  You guys rocked!
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?  I'll be there with bells on, with my husband and best friend in tow!  I'll probably read and may cheer again.

My RAT journal gets a break till October

End of Hour Twenty-Two

This hour I read:

Angel & Faith Vol. 2: Daddy Issues - 34 pages

I read for 37 minutes

Total pages read: 243

Total minutes read: 586

Books Finished - 1

This is gonna be the last hour for Nancy and I.  Richard went to bed at 3 and we're both starting to flag.

Nancy and Coal

My Favorite

Our famous foot shot to close out the RAT

End of Hour Twenty-One

This hour I read:

Angel & Faith Vol. 2: Daddy Issues - 13 pages

I read for 18 minutes

Total pages read: 209

Total minutes read: 549

Books Finished - 1

Our fancy schmancy popcorn boxes for our gourmet popcorn

Mini Challenge

That Moment When You Fall in Love With a Book-

Share the last 5 star book you read.

"Sky on Fire Monument 14 #2.  This was the second in a trilogy that I have just fallen in love with.  So often the second books in trilogies are let downs but this one was excellent.  It was just as exciting, totally nerve wracking and I loved the characters just as much.  A great, great book."

End of Hour Twenty

This hour I read:

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson - 5 pages - Finished It!

Angel & Faith Vol. 2: Daddy Issues - 34 pages

Total pages for the Hour - 39

I read for 49 minutes

Total pages read: 196

Total minutes read: 518

Books Finished - 1

Grafton, playing model with my finished book

Richard and Grafton, reading during his last hour before he called it a night

End of Hour Nineteen

This hour I read:

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson - 17 pages

I read for 49 minutes

Total pages read: 157

Total minutes read: 467

So close to finishing my first book...

Sleepy Kitties

End of Hour Eighteen

This hour I read:

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson - 5 pages

I read for 21 minutes

Total pages read: 140

Total minutes read: 418

I spent a lot of the last hour updating my blog and twitter.  I will finish this book!

I spent more time on this the past hour than on my book.

Grafton loves Read-A-Thons!

End of Hour Seventeen

This hour I read:

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson - 19 pages

I read for 55 minutes

Total pages read: 135

Total minutes read: 397

Games over and I'm home and back to reading.  Now to finish this book...

Payday Dip & Pineapple Cake - Yum!