Another Bout of Books come and gone. How did you all do? Did you have fun? Did you meet your goals? I had fun, but didn't meet my goals. Between it being my time of the month and feeling yukky, plus football and my Hubby taking up my Sunday (and some of Saturday), I just didn't read as much as I COULD have. I had the time to read, I was just doing too many other things. Still, I managed to read when I wanted to, and it was good times. :) It doesn't bother me, at all, if I don't make my goals. I just set them so I don't spend the whole time doing other things. This time I only spent part of the time doing other things. :) I only was interested in 1 challenge, I've copied and pasted that below. As for my other BoB 14 stats ~
My Bout of Books Goals
Time devoted to Reading
Daily, except for updates & challenges
GOALS
Complete at least TEN (10) books ~ DNF, Completed 8
Complete at least TWO (2) comics ~ DNF, Didn't read any
Complete challenges that interest me ~ Completed 1, only good one (to me)
Bout of Book 14 Stats
I completed 1 BoB RaT Challenge
I completed 8 books
I read 2,277 pages
I completed 5 novels and 2 novellas on my Kindle Fire
I listened to 1 novel as audiobooks
Started but not Completed
Completed Books
Day 7 Challenge ~ What to Read Next
The challenge ~ recommend 3 books (and only 3 books) that you have read this year that you think should be recognized as something great
I figured everyone had read this by the time I did (in March) but a lot of people I socialize with on GoodReads haven't gotten around to it yet. DEFINITELY the best book of the year for me. Such a good book and if you are an audiobook fan, I highly recommend the audiobook version. R.C. Bray is a great narrator and had me laughing out loud for some of the stuff. Also, be sure to read this before the movie come out in Nov!
I wanted to give a little variety in what I recommended. This one is different than The Martian, but not from my next pick. I've read a LOT of virtual reality books this year, and loved most of them. My favorite has to be this series, about a boy who is found for his VR skills and is taken to learn how to fight using virtual reality. This series reminded me a lot of HP with a focus on the friendships just as much as the story.
I had 4 more VR books to choose from for my last pick, and decided to go with pimping Solarversia. You can read my full review where if you read all the way to the bottom you can still get this book for FREE from the author (until 8/30). Solarversia is about a year long game being played out in virtual reality. While there WAS a handful of things I didn't like about this book, the overall premise and story line of the game was FANTASTIC. Plus, the author intends on trying to make the game in the book a reality, and I really really hope he succeeds with that, because I wanna PLAY! It was just a fun and enjoyable book and while it has flaws, it is a book I wish more people knew about.
Final day of Bout of Books. It's gone by fast, and I don't think I'll be meeting my goals. I COULD take the time to read today and get at least my book goal in, but it's STEELERS football day today and all I wanna do is watch the game!! So, I'm not really going to worry about it. I'll probably work on the 2 books I have going (33% into my Kindle book, 8% into my audiobook) at some point today but won't care too much if I don't actually finish them today. We'll see.
FINALLY, a challenge worthy of doing. Thank you Sarah Reads Too Much for doing a descent challenge! Yay, my first and only this Bout of Books!
Challenge
The challenge ~ recommend 3 books (and only 3 books) that you have read this year that you think should be recognized as something great
I figured everyone had read this by the time I did (in March) but a lot of people I socialize with on GoodReads haven't gotten around to it yet. DEFINITELY the best book of the year for me. Such a good book and if you are an audiobook fan, I highly recommend the audiobook version. R.C. Bray is a great narrator and had me laughing out loud for some of the stuff. Also, be sure to read this before the movie come out in Nov!
I wanted to give a little variety in what I recommended. This one is different than The Martian, but not from my next pick. I've read a LOT of virtual reality books this year, and loved most of them. My favorite has to be this series, about a boy who is found for his VR skills and is taken to learn how to fight using virtual reality. This series reminded me a lot of HP with a focus on the friendships just as much as the story.
I had 4 more VR books to choose from for my last pick, and decided to go with pimping Solarversia. You can read my full review where if you read all the way to the bottom you can still get this book for FREE from the author (until 8/30). Solarversia is about a year long game being played out in virtual reality. While there WAS a handful of things I didn't like about this book, the overall premise and story line of the game was FANTASTIC. Plus, the author intends on trying to make the game in the book a reality, and I really really hope he succeeds with that, because I wanna PLAY! It was just a fun and enjoyable book and while it has flaws, it is a book I wish more people knew about.
Updates!!
Sunday
Night Time Audio listening pages:
Day Time Audio listening pages:
Kindle reading pages: 137
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 8
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 137
Total Pages Read: 2,277
Challenges Participated in today: What to Read Next
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
Friday was a pretty slow day for me again. I wasn't up to reading much. I did finish up my audiobook but that was it for the day. Mainly I did a whole bunch of nothing! So far, today is starting off better. I listened to just over 60% of my audiobook before I finally went to sleep sometime after 2am so I already have a bunch of pages behind me and plan on reading at least one book today. Hubby is home today and tomorrow, and He always distracts me from reading, so hopefully I can at least get what I plan on doing done. We'll see! If I finish up 2 books today and 2 books tomorrow, I'll hit my week goal, though it looks like I won't be getting to the comics.
No challenges again for me.
Updates!!
Saturday
Night Time Audio listening pages: 215 pages
Day Time Audio listening pages: 138 pages
Kindle reading pages: 70 (Pwned)
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 7
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 423 pages
Total Pages Read: 2,140
Challenges Participated in today:
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
Another Bout of Books day! I finally finished my audiobook that I was working on, it was ok. I'm unsure what to rate it, still debating. So far today, I don't have anything planned out. Going to see what is needed for my challenges and go from there. Speaking of challenges, none again for me. Wow, they have been bad this time around, or maybe not bad but young? I dunno. I haven't felt like doing any.
So, it's just me and my books today. We'll see what I get in today.
I ended up not feeling well again and only finished up my audiobook for the day. I did
Updates!!
Friday
Night Time Audio listening pages: 149 pages
Day Time Audio listening pages:
Kindle reading pages:
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 6
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 149 pages
Total Pages Read: 1,717 pages
Challenges Participated in today:
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
Hoping to get this read-a-Thon back on track for me today. :) Didn't even post yesterday, just did my update for yesterday this morning. First, I was caught up in something else and then yesterday I didn't feel well. Luckily, I set my goals low, for me, so I shouldn't have any problem getting to them if I actually put some reading in. Have already finished one book for the day, hoping to do some more!
No, challenge again for me today. Is it just me, or is this BoB quieter than usual? It may be me, I haven't visited anyone yet, and I need to, but the whole thing just feels different to me. Probably just my imagination.
UGH! The Blast was horrible. Another RaT where I read an absolute crap of a book! This time it, hopefully, won't put me off reading though!
Updates!!
Thursday
Night Time Audio listening pages:
Day Time Audio listening pages:
Kindle reading pages: 306 pages
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 5
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 306
Total Pages Read: 1,568 pages
Challenges Participated in today:
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
Wednesday was another slow day for me, as I didn't feel good. Didn't get much done, except for some listening to my audiobook so I could just relax. Didn't finish anything but made headway on my audio and started a Kindle book which I'm finishing today. We'll see what I'm up for today, maybe some shorter stuffs.
Updates!!
Wednesday
Night Time Audio listening pages:
Day Time Audio listening pages: 200 pages
Kindle reading pages: 152 pages
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read: 3
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 352 pages
Total Pages Read: 1,262 pages
Challenges Participated in today:
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
After Monday, and my discovery of Nautilus Live, I knew I wouldn't be reading for Tuesday. They were wreck diving a Navy Airship and the 4 biplanes still inside. I didn't watch QUITE as much as I planned on, as it actually was less exciting (more rigidly done) than the day before, but I still did watch for hours, so I had planned that I just wouldn't worry about reading at all for Tuesday.
I did read some (audiobook) after midnight Monday before I fell asleep and I read more (Kindle) before midnight Tuesday night, so I did get some in and I finished a Novella! Better than nothing! :)
No challenge again for me today. I have no idea what a MASH challenge is, I guess I'm too old? (When is 30s too old?!) Ah well. On to my measly Tuesday stats! As I mentioned yesterday, this time around, I'm not tracking my time reading, as it's been all over the place.
Updates!!
Tuesday
Night Time Audio listening pages: 75
Day Time Audio listening pages:
Kindle reading pages: 156
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 3
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 231
Total Pages Read: 910
Challenges Participated in today:
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
It's that time! Bout of Books, and I'm pretty excited about it. I missed the last one, and have been quiet on my blog, so I'm glad to be getting back to it some. Looking forward to reading this week and though I don't want to overdo it, I really do want to read a lot.
I got up early just to start off my day with a bang. Unfortunately (sorta) I stumbled onto a new-to-me website yesterday. I've followed a few of the things that Robert Ballard (the guy that found Titanic) has done. I've watched a bunch of his specials, but didn't know that his research ship, the Nautilus, streams everything they do. I'm addicted already, and have a feeling I'm going to be a bit distracted with it today. AGH! At least my goals are low (for me) so if I get distracted, it'll be alright. I just started watching last night and already saw the coolest creature ever! I was able to get a screen shot of what I was seeing ~
Isn't he great?! It's a Grimpoteuthis ~ also known as a Dumbo Octopus. His ears were wiggling. It was soooo awesome!! :) I hope to see some more great creatures today! :)
At least I got an hour of reading in right after midnight! :)
My Bout of Books Goals
Time devoted to Reading
Daily, except for updates & challenges
GOALS
Complete at least TEN (10) books
Complete at least TWO (2) comics
Complete challenges that interest me
I will be updating here through the day and just have the ONE post per day. I'll use this as my update post for the next days update. I typically like to do one in the morning of updates and one at night of the challenges and such, but doing just one will give me more time to read. YAY for that. :)
That being said, let's get started for DAY ONE!! No challenge for me today, it didn't interest me. Up first, for my Kindle reading ~ Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge.
Updates!!
With my new obsession, my first day didn't go as well as I would have liked. I watched Nautilus Live for 4 1/2 hours in the morning and LOVED it. I'm back to watching again today (Tuesday) because they are wreck diving the US Navy Airship Macon and the 4 biplanes that are still inside.
So, I didn't read as much as I planned, but I still finished 2 books. I'm not going to track my time of reading this time, because I was reading all over the place. I had said that this time I wasn't going to push it too much, so my time yesterday was still good.
Monday
Night Time Audio listening time/pages: 75 pages (Darkest Minds)
Day Time Audio listening time/pages:
Kindle reading time / pages: 604 pages
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 2
Current Book:
Pages Read Today: 679 pages
Total Pages Read: 679 pages
Time Read Today:
Total Time Read:
Challenges Participated in today: none
Today's Completed Books/Comics:
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, August 17th and runs through Sunday, August 23th 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 14 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team
It's one of those times of year ~ Bout of Books. While I thought I would go ahead and sign up, I am still having a little debate with myself on if I actually want to do it. But hey, what better way to get posting more on my blog than to do it on one of the best read-a-thons of the year?
I DO know I'm not going to push myself this time around. For read-a-thons I typically like to read as MUCH as I can, (which means all day every day) rarely taking breaks from reading and I'm not back to that level of wanting to read so much right now. While I am getting back more into reading, I definitely don't want to push it and be back into a reading slump (like I was after reading 52 books in April). I am doing a few challenges at GoodReads, and that always helps me with reading more, so I'll be focusing on reading books for the challenges during the Read-a-Thon and not worrying about trying to out do my best weeks of reading, book wise.
That being said, y'all know I can't plan worth crap. So, no plans for me, and my goal this time around is VERY low (for me). I look forward to joining in and visiting all the blogs I've missed while I've been taking all kinds of breaks ~ from blogging, from reading, from life in general. I will be updating here on my blog ~ as always I don't twit or tweet ~ **shudders**. Hate that crap! As always, I talk/post WAY too much to be constrained by character limits! :) So, come check me out here. Feel free to add me to your Bloglovin' feed. If you do, let me know and I'll follow you!
My Bout of Books Goals
Time devoted to Reading
Daily, except for updates & challenges
GOALS
Complete at least TEN (10) books
Complete at least TWO (2) comics
Complete challenges that interest me
I'm not planning on trying anything specific, like reading books in a series or from the 365 Days of YA challenge I put on myself. I'm just going to read what I need for my challenges and try to not push myself to overdo it and read tons and tons!
This will be my 4th Bout of Books (I skipped BoB 13).
Hi all! I'm slowly making my way back from my funk. I was really down and depressed for most of March - June. I've been slowly getting more "me" and posting again, and doing some things again. I'm not up to doing a ton of swaps yet, and don't know that I'll ever get back to the crazy amount I was doing, but I'm at least sociable again, so yay for that! :)
My reading month has been a little better than it had been in the last few months. I've balanced out my reading and my gaming more. I've also joined back in with some challenges on GoodReads and that always gets me reading. I've posted some NetGalley reviews, though I still have a bunch more I need to do, it was a start.
Hope you enjoy reading about what I've been reading!
Third re-read of the year for me.I decided to listen to the audio before we started watching the mini-series.It’s an enjoyable enough book, quick and easy read, a typical Patterson.Animals around the world are going nuts and attacking.It takes the main character quite a while to figure it out.Unfortnately, I did NOT like the mini-series and we stopped watching it after episode 2.
02 ~ Evil Never Dies (Lizzy Gardner 05) by T.R. Ragan
Completed 7/3
4 of 5 stars
The last in the Lizzy Gardner series, a PI who has, since the last book, turned more rogue.Some things are difficult to read, especailly for anyone who has issues reading about pregnancy or women who are pregnant being harmed, but overall it was a good conclusion to the series.
03 ~ Arena Mode (Arena Mode 01) by Blake Northcott
Completed 7/8
5 of 5 stars
Though there were some things I didn’t like, i? Mainly really loved this book.My main issue was the start, where it seemed like it was jumping straight into the action, but it was just a flash forward of sorts and it doesn’t get back to the action til 40%.Still, a really great book about super heros having a competition.
04 ~ The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Completed 7/9
3.5 of 5stars
Didn’t wow me or sweep me off my feet but it kept my attetnion for the most part.A book about a librarian who travels to different times and places to collect rare books for a huge invisible library.The characters were OK, I wasn’t in love with them.I’ll try the next one, probably.
05 ~ Assult or Attrition (Arena Mode 02) by Blake Northcott
Completed 7/10
3.5 of 5 stars
Didn’t like this one as much as the first, didn’t like almost the first half at all.It was dull and slow moving.It picked up about half way and the 2nd half was good enough to make up for the 1st half.5 stars for the last 50%, 2 stars for the first 50%.Liked most of the characters well enough, looking forward to the next.
06 ~ SecondWord by Jeremy Robinson
Completed 7/13
4.5 of 5 stars
This was definitely a different book for me.The MC is down in the ocean at at research facility when he has to surface and discovers that not only are there no people around, but he’s unable to breathe the air.He sets out to find out what’s going on.It’s a crazy story with really enjoyable characters.Looking forward to the novella that’s out and anymore than come.
07 ~ The Naked Eye (Kendra Michaels 03) by Iris Johansen
Completed 7/15
5 of 5 stars
I LOVE this series.If you are a fan of mystery with a great MC, this is a great series to try.Kendra was blind as a child and was able to recieve sight through a treatment.She uses her still heightened senses to help solve crimes, as she’s able to give a unique look at the situation.In this one, she’s the only one who is after a serial killer who was supposed to have been sentanced to death.Everyone saw him “die” so no one believes her when she says it was faked and he’s still out there.Really really good!
08 ~ Armada by Ernest Cline
Completed 7/17
4 of 5 stars
I have been waiting on this book since Ready Player One.Unfortunately it did not live up to RPO, which is one of my all time favorite books.The references are still there, more than just the 80s this time and mainly gaming and sci-fi references and it was enjoyable, but just not as good.MC Zack is one of the best at one of the most popular video games when he finds out that it’s not just a video game but a training tool to prepare kids like him from an alien invasion.
09 ~ Troll Mountian (Complete Novel) by Matthew Reilly
Completed 7/17
4 of 5 stars
With this book, I have read all of Reilly’s books to date.I LOVE this author.This was one of 2 books by him that was a change from his normal type book.The story was enjoyable.It wasn’t something I’d normally seek out, but it ended up being really cute for as short as it was (originally released online as episodes).In it, a boy heads off to troll mountian to try to steal some elixer for his sick sister.
I’ve been reading the 39 Clues books for a while now.I initially started the series YEARS ago when they first came out, but then I hadn’t read any in a while until I decided to restart the series and read them when I needed some shorter books.Now my go to books for read-a-thons, I’m up to date on this series for the most part.This starts a smaller series set within the 39 Clues books, with yet another person out to destroy the Cahill’s.It was enjoyable enough though I’ve never been an Ian fan.
11 ~ Book of the Dead (TombQuest 01) by Michael Northrop
Completed 7/18
3.5 of 5 stars
This series is supposed to be like 39 Clues, so I decided to give it a try.I really liked the first one, it was cute.The characters are good enough and it was like “The Mummy” (my favorite movie ~ the Brendan Frasier one) for kids.I put it off for a while because I didn’t like the premise of a boy being sick and his mother using the book of the dead to heal him, but I’m glad I read it.It was enjoyable, good quick read for read-a-thons.
12 ~ Amulet Keepers (TombQuest 02) by Michael Northrop
Completed 7/19
3 of 5 stars
Didn’t like this one as much as the first.The first kept my attention and this one bored me some but it was still ok.In this one they went to London in search of the next Death Walker.The characters were a little more annoying in this one, but it wasn’t awful.Definitely going to continue with it when the next one comes out.
13 ~ Nemesis (FBI 19) by Catherine Coulter
Completed 7/19
2.5 of 5 stars
I’ve been reading this series for years and enjoymost of them, for the most part.It was nice in this book to get back to Savich and Sherlock, but I definitely couldn’t get into the storylines.Sherlock’s, of having prevented a terroist attack at an airport was enjoyable enough but Savich’s storyline of a bizarre murder didn’t interest me at all.
14 ~ Melting Steele (Sarah Steele 03) by Aaron Patterson
Completed 7/20
3 of 5 stars
This series consists of really short books that are good for when I need something quick for a challenge or read-a-thon.Sarah Steele works for the DA’s office but when she returns from her recent trip (in book 2) she learns she’s been put on leave due to her actions.She decides to quit instead and open up her own business, but first she has to help out a murder case on an Indian reservation.It was enjoyable enough, looking forward to more if there is more.
15 ~ Blood of Elves (The Witcher 03) by Andrzej Sapkowski
Completed 7/22
3 of 5 stars
I needed to read a book with arrows on the cover for a challenge, so I decided to read this, which was a weird choice for me.My Hubby has been playing The Witcher 3 since it came out and I’ve been sitting here watching Him play it.I decided to read one of the books that the games were based on, and this one was the closest to what He’s doing in the game.It was ok, but a lot less action than I thought there would be.
16 ~ Three Times a Lady (Dana Whitestone 03) by Jon Osborne
Completed 7/23
1 of 5 stars
I loved the first book in this series, it was great.This one was tooooooo disturbing.I don’t mind gruesome crazy serial killer stuff, but I draw the line when it starts as abuse to the child.This one was wrong in so many ways, it was just bad.I wish I hadn’t kept with it.
17 ~ London Eye (Toxic City 01) by Tim Lebbon
Completed 7/23
2 of 5 stars
According to the description of this book, I was expecting “The Hunger Games meets the X-men in an exciting postapocalyptic debut.”I won’t go into my long review tirade but I didn’t get any of that.There was nothing of Hunger Games.All that was X-men was them having some abilities and there was nothing exciting about it at all.Definitely won’t read any more of them and it made me not interested in reading another book I had marked as to be read by that author.
18 ~ Hexad: The Factory (Hexad 01) by AL K Line
Completed 7/23
4 of 5 stars
This was one CRAZY book.Not for people who don’t like, or don’t grasp the concept of time travel.I like to think I understand the concept between stuff like Star Trek and other time travel reads, but even in this book my mind was going nutters.It’s like the author took all the words and concepts and put them into a blender and wrote what got spit out.It was crazy but I liked it overall.I couldn’t believe when I saw it was a series, definitely wanna see what happens next!
19 ~ Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle
Completed 7/25
4 of 5 stars
I decided to read this book because it had (I thought) something to do with a role playing game, and I’ve been on a gaming books kick.There was a game in it, but it wasn’t the main part of the book and the book was VERY VERY different and VERY VERY weird.Not my normal type book, definitely a bit dark, but I liked it in a weird way. It was definitely not for everyone, but it was good.
20 ~ Schooled (Lexy Cooper 01) by Christa Charter
Completed 7/27
3.5 of 5 stars
Different and quirky.I liked the MC except for her continued relationship with a married man.Other than that, I liked her and the story was fun.The narrator and the audio quality was horrible, it sounded really cheap but didn’t take away from the story.
21 ~ Servicing the Target (Shadowlands 10) by Cherise Sinclair
Completed 7/28
5 of 5 stars
I won’t go into the details of this one, as it’s an erotica, but Cherise is the mistress of BDSM books and this latest was great.It was a FemDom, which is the first of this series and it was good to get mistress Anne’s story.Enjoyable story, great characters, BDSM done the right way!All other erotica/BDSM should look to Cherise for inspiration.
22 ~ Solarversia by Toby Downton
Completed 7/29
5 of 5 stars
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!Were there some flaws in it?Yes.Were there some things I didn’t like?Yes.But overall, this book was sooooo fun and enjoyable.It’s about a year long game being played out in virtual reality.The characters were flawed but likable, the game was fantastic.The author wants to make the game in the book an actual game, and I will sign up if I can, because that would be AWESOME!!! (***See my REVIEW, or see below to see how you can get this book FREE***)
23 ~ The Emerald Atlas (Books of Beginning 01) by John Stephens
Completed 7/30
3.5 of 5 stars
I decided to listen to this audiobook because I had listened to a few crappy narrators and I wanted a good one.This series is done by the great Jim Dale so of course it was going to be a great narration.The story was cute enough.3 kids find out that they are part of something big going on when they find a book that allows them to travel through time.Enjoyable characters with a good story.
24 ~ Midnight Playground (Pleasure Playground 01) by Eliza Gayle
Completed 7/31
1 of 5 stars
I won’t give details since this is an erotica, but this book pissed me off, and it was just ONE thing (but a big thing) that got me pissed.The characters were good enough.The story was quick and enjoyable.If it hadn’t been for the one thing I probably would have given the book a 3.5 or 4 stars.But, she pissed me off, so I’m still ticked about it.If you are interested in BDSM, read Cherise Sinclair instead, she wouldn’t have done this stupid thing! If you want to know ~
The "doms" didn't give her a safe word, then when they asked her (at the end) if she wanted one, they accepted that she didn't. No no no no no. This is wrong, on so many levels. There should ALWAYS ALWAYS be a safe word. Even if it's never used, it should be there for an added layer of protection. BAD men, horrible "doms" and bad author!!
Currently Reading ~
The Fire Chronicles (Books of Beginning 02) by John Stephens
YOU can get Solarversia right now!! Just head to Solarversia.com and sign up for the newsletter and an ebook will be emailed to you!! (Until 8/30) You can also do as I am, and take part in the Book Blogger Promotion to spread the word about Solarversia ~ both the book and the *crosses fingers* game.
