Bout Of Books 30 Update Post

 

Here is where I am keeping track of my Bout of Books 30 progress

Planned Reading:

 

Books I Finished Reading:

Day 1:

Not much reading here today. I got sidetracked by a show on Netflix. But I did read the first two chapters of  Lost Truth (about 18 pages)

Day 2: 

Today Elengil and I listened to  about two hours of our audiobook A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. We are a little over halfway done. This is the last tome in a fourteen book series which we have been listening to together since October of 2018 

Day 3:

Because of the events today at the capitol, the evening was spent listening to the news and talking with good friends. No escapism into reading for me today.

Day 4:

 Today I read 191 pages of Lost Truth by Dawn Cook. I am really enjoying this so far as it is pulling together storylines from the first three books. Alissa (the main character) has discovered that the lost Masters of the hold are not dead as her teacher believed (He being the only Master left in the hold). She, the minstrel Strell, the warder Lodesh, and fellow master Connen-Neute travel overseas to find the missing mages. 

At my stopping  point tonight the lost colony has been found, The leader of the colony has decided Alissa's training  was to be her job, despite Alissa having had training from the remaining master of the hold Talo-Toecan. There is some of the love triangle storyline between Alissa, Strell and Lodesh starting to be resolved.

Day 5:

Read three chapters of Lost Truth this morning before work. Read another two chapters during a break. I have a little over a hundred pages left in the book, so should finish it tonight.

Update: After work I finished Lost Truth.

Day 6:

 This morning I picked up Sunrise Point by Robyn Carr. I have read 300 pages so far.

This evening, Elengil and I listened to  an hour and a half of A memory of Light together.

Day 7:

 I finished Sunrise Point early this morning. I really enjoyed this book. Instead of the instant attraction which occurs in many romances there is some attraction between the two romantic lead characters. However, we witness them becoming friends first, then lovers. This was a really nice change of pace. As always, I'm reading this series out of order, so it's nice that this stood well on it's own but still pulled in characters and storylines from earlier books.

I picked up this collection of essays on mental health. It has been on my TBR list for a couple years now, and I plan on leaving this in a local little free library as it is very powerful insight into some of the many nooks and crannies  of mental illnesses. I'm only about halfway done, but it has been very very moving so far.

 

Bout of Books 30

 

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 30 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I'm not sure how much I will be reading as it is the first week back to work after winter break and this school year has been interesting already with the amount of meetings while we work remotely. Also, I discovered Best Leftovers Ever on Netflix over the weekend...

I started the year with four books carried over from 2020. One I finished on Saturday. So, I am planning on reading/listening to the following during the read a thon:

Books to be read during Bout of Books:

 

Book Review: Breakwater by Carla Neggers

This was a good little romantic suspense book.

Quinn Harlow, an independent contractor in Washington DC. She used to work for the justice department. Her friend and colleague Alicia from the Justice Department is having a rough time. Thinking that her friend is suffering burnout form work Quinn lets her use her bayside cottage in Yorkville. Quinn becomes worried about Alicia when her friend rushed up to her at a coffee shop yells about how "The Ospreys are going to kill me" runs off and disappears into a black Lincoln town car. Quinn tries to call Alicia, visits her DC townhouse with no answer. She drives to Yorkville hoping that she will find Alicia there. Unfortunately she finds her friend dead on the shore, an apparent drowning victim to a kayaking accident.

Bodyguard Huck McCabe from the Breakwater Institute, a startup security firm is out for a run when he hears Quinn screaming for help. He is in fact an undercover US Marshal investigating Breakwater as he suspects that there is more to the security firm than it looks: a front for a group of violent vigilantes that may be headed by a powerful politician. McCabe tries to keep Quinn from investigating her friends death. However, Quinn doesn't listen and starts asking questions. Questions that bring her to the attention of the vigilantes. Huck finds his attention divided. To continue his undercover work, and to protect this inquisitive woman.

I really enjoyed this because while there was attraction between the two main characters the mystery was the main focus. Which doesn't always happen in these types of romantic suspense books. It was a fairly light and quick read. Just what I needed at the end of the semester. This was an older book from My TBR pile. It came from another bookcrossing member in 2017.

Book Review: Terror in the Shadows Vol. 9: Horror Short Stories Collection with Scary Ghosts, Paranormal & Supernatural Monsters by by Scare Street (Publisher), Ron Ripley (Author), David Longhorn (Author), Sara Clancy (Author), Bronson Carey (Author), Kathryn St. John-Shin (Editor), Michelle Reeves (Editor)

 I received a review copy through librarything's Early Reviewer's program.

This is the first horror short story collection I have read by Scare Street. This collection has seventeen stories by four authors. Many are set in the northeastern portion of the United States. Many of the characters meet grisly ends from the hands of the undead. A few stories have very current settings with references to the current pandemic, and the very last story Fatberg, while it didn't quite match up with the tone of the other stories in the book was probably my favorite as it had a little more humorous tone than the other stories. Like many short story collections that I have read the stories varied in strength. Some of these were very good, and others weren't as engaging in my opinion.

All in all though, this was an engaging collection of spooky stories, perfect for fall spooky reading.

Bout of Books 27 updates

I'm starting the read a thon with:

1/6/2020

  

Elengil and I are listening to:

1/7/2020 I have almost finished A Quick Bite and we have listened to about four hours of  A Crown of Swords.

1/8/2020 - I finished A Quick Bite tonight. I am starting

Which was bought secondhand and registered by me on bookcrossing.com in 2015. I think it is time to get it off the to be read pile.

Bout of books 27

I'm going to be reading during the Bout of Books read a thon this week.

Bout of Books 26

I had planned on sitting this round out as this week is crazy with professional development days and the fact that I am in a bit of a reading slump at the moment.  However, I pulled  something in my back and have to take it easy. So I'm signing up for the read a thon  anyways. I know I won't get a ton of reading done Thursday or Friday due to the professional developments. But I don't think I will be in the classroom tomorrow (year round programs are fun) as I am thinking that picking up babies and chasing toddlers  might make my injury worse.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01 AM Monday August 19th and runs through Sunday August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is a low pressure read-a-thon. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 26 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - from the Bout of Books team

I'm starting off with 

Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe
(Don't) Call Me Crazy 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health.
 Edited by Kelly Jensen

The hubby and I are listening to:

Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn


8/19/19 Day 1:

did not read for the read-a-thon

8/20/19 Day 2: 

Read 100 pages of Swimming Lessons
Read one essay in (Don't) Call Me Crazy
Listened to several hours of Thrawn: Treason in the evening

8/21/19 Day 3:

Finished Swimming Lessons
Finished Thrawn: Treason
Started Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (audiobook) with Elengil

8/22/19 Day 4:

Listened to Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (audiobook) with Elengil

8/23/19 Day 5:

Listened to Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (audiobook) with Elengil

8/24/25 Day 6:

listened to Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (audiobook)with Elengil
Started Gluten-Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern Read about 100 pages

8/25/19  Day 7:

listened to Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan (audiobook)with Elengil
Still reading  Gluten-Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern


Books Finished:

Bout of Books 25 updates

This round will be interesting, I have several days off and the rest of the week will be combined  with reading on my breaks and after dinner is made/housework done.

Day 1: Today I have to stay at home to wait for a technician to come with my new CPAP machine. So lots of chances to get some reading done today.

Finished:

A bunch of articles on gender awareness for a class tomorrow evening.

Started/In Progress:

Day 2: Today rather than sitting in a waiting room while my mom is in surgery, I'm at work. I left my copy of Secret Wars at home so pulled the book in my work bag out during lunch. Also I have a class until late so I only see a little of audio book listening on the way home tonight.

Started/In Progress:

China Dolls - Read at Work

Secret Vows - at home possibly before bedtime reading

Artemis - Audiobook that Elengil and I are listening to together.

Bout of Books 25

I am planning on taking part in the bout of books read a thon this week. I'm off due to family medical stuff going on during the week and expect to have plenty of reading time while sitting in waiting rooms, etc.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 25 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Bout of Books 24 Reading List and Update page

I am planning on reading the following this round:

The Book of Rack the Healer by Zach Hughes - Commute/break reading

The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm edited by Terri Windling & Ellen Daltow - Home reading

The Only Pirate at the Party by Lindsey Stirling & Brooke S. Passey - Home Reading

Metal Swarm by Kevin J. Anderson - Audiobook that I am listening to with Elengil currently.

Day 1:

I actually started the Read a thon with a book not on my above reading list. I thought I would be finished with the ebook I was reading when I made my planned list. Instead, I was about 130 pages into it, with another 110 or so to finish reading.

Don't Call Me Cupcake by Tara Sheets - Finished reading

The Faery Reel - This is an anthology I have been reading for a couple weeks. It's large and heavy which disqualify it for commute reading. But it is excellent for short reading moments in the evening. Today I read 3 short stories and a poem from it. probably about 80 pages read total.

Metal Swarm - Elengil and I listened to maybe an hour of this today.

Day 2:

Due to an unexpected and unplanned trip to the urgent care and a sick day off of work due to a rotovirus and a wonky stomach I got a lot of reading and sleeping done today. Fun Fact, having to take public transportation and walking a half mile when your stomach is wonky is no fun.

The Only Pirate at the Party - I loved this. I have been listening to Lindsey's music since before her first album came out and really enjoyed her autobiography. I knew she was a youtube content maker when youtube was fairly new but didn't know she had been on and voted off of America's Got Talent. This was a fairly quick read especially since I was held hostage to bus arrivals and waiting rooms. -Finished Reading.

The Faery Reel - Read one excellent story in this anthology.  It was around 35 pages.

Day3:

Back to work and I have parent conference paperwork to catch up on, so not sure what reading will get done.

Elengil and I listened to two hours of Metal Swarm last night, but not much reading got done 

otherwise today.

Day 4:

Very little reading at all today. I was busy busy busy. I started The Book of Rack the Healer on the train home, not sure I'm going to enjoy this one. It is very odd in the little I have read so far. When I got home I vegged out to The Great British Baking Show: Beginnings.

Day 5:

I finished The Faery Reel tonight. Only had two short stories left in it to finish. This was an amazing collection, that I don't understand how it ended up sitting on my TBR pile for so long (I got it from another bookcrossing member in 2013!)

Day 6:

I picked up my nook today while taking breaks from work paperwork. I read Ride Me by Rebecca Brooke which is the second book in the Jaded Ivory series. I haven't read the first book, but I liked the character Mari a lot, and book 1 is her story so I will be picking it up at some point. Elengil and I listened to a little more of Metal Swarm tonight. We are a little bit over halfway done with the audiobook. Which means we still have seven plus hours to listen to.

Day 7:

I picked up a reread of a book I loved years ago when I read it last. I read The Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones. This is the sequel to Howl's moving Castle which is one of my favorite books of hers. This is a bookcrossing copy that I wanted to read before I left it in the little free library in front of the magnet school just South of the 0-5 program I work at.

I also read the Graphic Novel Tank Girl One which was one of the books I received for this past Christmas. I was reading the Dark Horse comics in the 90's so it was fun to read these in the original black and white format.

Not sure I will get any more reading done today as I have some more work paperwork to finish up this afternoon.

Finished Reading:

  

Bout of Books 24

I was unable to participate in the 23rd round of the Bout of Books read a thon due to missing the sign up dates (I read quite a bit that week but didn't post here). I am going to try and take part in the 24th round which starts next week.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th 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 24 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Bout of Books update post

Wrap-Up:

Progress:

5/14: read 100 + pages of The Radon file by Denise Vitola 100 pages left to read
5/15: finished The Radon file by Denise Vitola
          started and finished The Weirdly World of Strange Eggs
          Started Miracle by Deborah Smith
5/16: finished Miracle by Deborah Smith
5/17:  started and finished Traveler of the Moon Volume 1 by Lee Na Hyeon
5/18: started and finished Ursa Minors: Wait For The Trade, Volume 1 by Neil Kleid
5/19: started and finished Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei 1: The Power of Negative Thinking by Koji Kumeta
           Started The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go by Amy E. Reichler
5/20: Finished The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go by Amy E. Reichler
Finished:

Finished on 5/15/2018

Finished on 5/15/2018

Finished on 5/16/2018

Finished on 5/17/2018

Finished on 5/18/2018

Finished on 5/19/2018

Finished on 5/20/2018