Double-Stacked Bookshelves

I'm gearing up and prepping for the Library Books Read-a-Thon hosted by Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages  and the Summer Library Challenge hosted by Kate and Kristen @ The Book Monsters (both kick off tomorrow).  Popped over to the university library where I work and picked up these three beauties: Also, I've requested four books from the local public library in an effort to finish up the Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger.  I read the first in the series and quite enjoyed it...so I have to finish it, naturally! Books On The List So Far * The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison * The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne * Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies * The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger Changeless (Book #2) Blameless (Book #3) Heartless (Book #4) Timeless (Book #5) Possible Books To Add * The Divergent Series   by Veronica Roth Divergent Insurgent Allegiant * The Inkworld Series by Cornelia Funke (I've already read the f

I think I'm on a reading challenge kick lately...here's another! The Summer Library Reading Challenge is hosted by Kate and Kristen @ The Book Monsters and goes from June 1st through July 31st.  Again, the idea is to promote a love of reading and that libraries are awesome resources/places to visit.  They will host a number of challenges (there will also be external challenges hosted by other blogs) and twitter chats throughout the two months and a specific Summer Library Readathon from June 16th to June 22nd (right after the  Library Books Read-a-Thon ends...perfect).  I'm very excited to participate in two challenges (or more) over the summer as it's a fairly slow time for particular line of work (higher education) and I have quite a bit of free time to read and visit the library. If you're interested in participating, here's the link to sign up!

Now that Bout of Books has finished their reading challenge, and I had such a great time, I decided to scour the internet for a new reading challenge to take on.  Enter the Library Books Read-A-Thon hosted by Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages .  This reading challenge takes place from June  9-16.  It is the second time this read-a-thon has taken place and I'm happy to be adding to its success. According to the guidelines, the goal is to read as many library books as you possibly can throughout the week, though reading books you already own is perfectly acceptable as well.  The goal is to spread the love of reading and libraries.  There are so many awesome things that libraries offer and do for their respective communities that people do not realize.  This is an excellent way to shed some much needed light on some smaller town libraries (I know my local library would benefit). I'm not sure what I'm going to be reading as of yet, but I do have a "to-read" list s

Bout of Books Wrap Up I was unable to compose posts to highlight my progress for the last two days of the Bout of Books Reading Challenge, though I did post my pages read via Twitter on the correct days.  Regardless, here's how the challenge went for me. Finished A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin Watership Down by Richard Adams Luring a Lady by Nora Roberts Started Convincing Alex by Nora Roberts Total Pages Read:  779 Not too shabby for my first time participating in this challenge and for not reading as often as I could have.  This is a challenge that I will most definitely be participating in again for sure.  I loved every minutes of it and truly enjoyed meeting fellow bloggers/readers during the challenge.  Plus, it's a great way to dedicate some serious reading time into a busy schedule.  Until next time, fellow Bout of Bookers!

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 4 I took yesterday off from work to run errands and whatnot...and I got some serious reading done for the Bout of Books  Challenge as well!  Here's yesterday's progress! Currently Reading:  A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin FINISHED!!!!! Read a total of 24 pages to knock it our yesterday morning. Currently Reading:  Watership Down by Richard Adams FINISHED!!!!! Read a total of 157 pages to knock this one out. Currently Reading:  The Stanislaski Brothers: Mikhail and Alex   by Nora Roberts On page 15 of 435 A total number of 15 pages read. I feel incredibly accomplished about yesterday's reading progress.  I read a total of 196 pages for a grand total of 480 pages read so far!  Woohoo!  Happy reading, fellow Bout of Book participants!

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 3 I'm still chugging along in the Bout of Books Reading Challenge.  Pretty consistent in the page number deparment :)  Here's yesterday's progress! Currently Reading:  A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin On page 954 of 978 A total of 127 pages read yesterday Currently Reading:  Watership Down by Richard Adams Still on page 234 of 391 A total of 0 pages read yesterday This gives me a total of 127 pages read yesterday and a grand total of 284 pages read for the challenge so far.  Here's hoping today goes even better!  Also, Rip City!!!!!! Happy Reading, fellow Bout of Book participants!

Bout of Books Challenge 3:  Book Pairings Today is the third day in the Bout of Books Reading Challenge and our mini challenge is hosted by Anmiryam @ My Overstuffed Bookshelves and it's all about association!  This book made me think of this and so on.  Should be interesting.  Here are a few of mine: Current Read * A Feast for Crows makes me think of how much I want to be reading right now!  This one is pretty self-explanatory.  This series is AWESOME! * Watership Down makes me think of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH .  Both deal with relocation and animals. Random Associations * 44 Scotland Street makes me think of closes and Edinburgh.  The series is set in Edinburgh and I began reading it when I moved back to the States after completing my Masters in the city.  I love being able to visualize exactly where the characters are throughout the books. * Harry Potter makes me think of anticipation, late night reading, and undying love.  Again, this o

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 2 I feel a little more accomplished today than I did yesterday in the Bout of Books Reading Challenge. I devoted some real time to reading and was able to knock off a few pages in both of my books. Currently Reading:  A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin On page 827 of 978 A total of 109 pages read yesterday Currently Reading:  Watership Down by Richard Adams On page 234 of 391 A total of 11 pages read yesterday This gives me a total of 120 pages read yesterday and a grand total of 157 pages read for the challenge so far.  Here's hoping today goes even better!  I also washed and detailed my car last night.  Woohoo. Happy reading, fellow Bout of Book participants!!

Bout of Books Challenge 2:  Books I'm Looking Forward To Today's mini challenge in the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon is hosted by Shannon @ River City Reading and it's all about anticipation!  Here's a list of books I'm looking forward to reading in the near and distant future (some I own and some are yet to be published): Yet To Be Published Winter by Marissa Meyer -- Expected publication 2015 The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin -- Expected publication forthcoming A Dream of Spring by George R.R. Martin -- Expected publication forthcoming Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian -- Expected publication July 2014 Untitled Memoir/Sequel to Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir  by Jenny Lawson -- Expected publication forthcoming Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Year of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami Books On My Bookshelf The Casual Vacany by JK Rowling A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin The Satanic Ver

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 1 The first day of the Bout of Books Reading Challenge is over and I have to admit that it was a blast participating in the Twitter chat.  While I didn't read as much as I wanted to, I did make a tiny bit of progress in both of my books. Currently Reading:  A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin On page 718 of 978 Only able to get a total of 19 pages read during the day.  Currently Reading:  Watership Down by Richard Adams On page 241 of 391 Only read 18 pages before crashing out for the night. This gives me a total count of 37 pages read yesterday.  Not a great start, but I also have to say that I spent the majority of the evening watching my beloved Portland Trail Blazers come back in style to force a game 5 with the Spurs AND made a bomb dinner of barbequed salmon, bacon wrapped prawns, and a spinach and strawberry salad.  So there's that.  Today shall be better!! Happy reading, fellow Bout of Book participants!

Bout of Books Challenge 1:  If you like this, then try this!     Today's challenge is hosted by The Book Barbies  and is a great way to find books/authors you might not have heard of.  Here are some of my suggestions: If you like  Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, then try Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire . If you like futuristic YA stories, then try The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. If you like books set in World War II, then try Skeletons at the Feast Chris Bohjalian. If you like Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, then try Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. If you like books with lots of depth and multiple characters, then try Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. If you like books that lead to great discussions, then try The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley. If you like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, then try Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. If you like A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, then try The Red Te

  Today is the first day in the Bout of Books 10 reading challenge and I'm ready to go!  I've decided that I'm going to do the following for the challenge: 1.  Continue working my way through A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin.  I am currently on page 699 of 978.  The series is just too good to step away from!  Totally doable to finish this one. 2.  I am also going to continue plowing through Watership Down as it's the one on my nightstand and I always read a chapter or two before turning the light off at night.  I can't remember what page I'm on exactly, but I think it's around 223 of 391. 3.  On Saturday I hopped over to a local consignment/thrift store to donate some items...and buy some things, because that's how I roll.  Ended up walking away with three books for a buck:  two romances and a non-fiction World War II book...I'm eclectic.  Of those, I plan on reading The Stanislaski Brothers:  Mikhail and Alex .  It's technica

I had never heard of the Bout of Books reading challenge until a friend and fellow blogger, Lori over at Palmer's Page Turners , posted about it on her blog.  It looks like a fun challenge (very loose rules), so I figured I'd give it a go!  Plus, it's not as intense as the Dewey 24-hour Read-a-thon.  Here's the official blurb/guidelines for the challenge: 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 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in.  Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. --From the Bout of Books team I haven't determined exac