Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - The Wrap-Up Post

Who knew that read-a-thons could be so much fun. I've always wanted to enter one, but only lately managed to find the time, and here I am, on my fourth one. It was challenging to read as much as I could in the course of a week (actually, two, since I did two RAT in a row), but thankfully, it's over. I have too many pending reviews to write, lol.

Statistically speaking, I read:

• 1603 pages (average of 229 per day);
• in 22 hours (average of 3 hours and 8-9 minutes per day);
• 6 books: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson; Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas; River Marked, Patricia Briggs; Spider-Man - Death of the Stacys, Stan Lee, Lee Weeks, Gerry Conway, Gil Kane; Avengers - World Trust, Geoff Johns, Kieron Dwyer, Ivan Reis; Avengers - Red Zone, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, Olivier Coipel.

I've managed to accomplish my goals. Thankfully I set some manageable goals:

• I read every day, at least for an hour or two;
• I entered many of the challenges;
• I updated my progress everyday;
• Read 3 fiction books and a few comic books/graphic novels.

I lowered my TBR pile and read a bit more than usual - I rarely finish a book in 2 days these days, and I did so for the 3 fiction books I read. This was great, and I'd like to thank the hosts and everyone who hosted a challenge - they were quite challenging!

Below are my posts for the read-a-thon, both the starting post as well as the daily update posts, which contain my progress and my answers to the challenges.

Starting Post

Monday, August 13th

Tuesday, August 14th

Wednesday, August 15th

Thursday, August 16th

Friday, August 17th

Saturday, August 18th

Sunday, August 19th

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Sunday, August 19th

Pages: 400 (total so far: 1603)

Hours: 3 hours (total so far: 22 hours)

Books: Avengers - World Trust, Geoff Johns, Kieron Dwyer, Ivan Reis
Avengers - Red Zone, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, Olivier Coipel
(previously read: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson; Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas;
River Marked, Patricia Briggs;
 Spider-Man - Death of the Stacys, Stan Lee, Lee Weeks, Gerry Conway, Gil Kane)

Challenge: Giveaway hosted by Kelsey @ Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf 

Challenge: Movie Cast hosted by Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews

I am asking you all to create a movie cast for your current read.  If the book you're reading right now has all ready been made into a movie, you can either create a new and improved cast, or chose another book you've read this week.

US only.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Saturday, August 18th

Pages: 345 (total so far: 1203)

Hours: 4 hours (total so far: 19 hours)

Books: River Marked/O Diabo do Rio, Patricia Briggs
 Spider-Man - Death of the Stacys, Stan Lee, Lee Weeks, Gerry Conway, Gil Kane
(previously read: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson; Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas)

Challenge: Music hosted by Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

The rules are simple. All you have to do is choose one book that you’ve read this year, or one of your favorites, or even a book that you’ve read for the readathon. Then, choose a song that matches your book. Post a picture/link to your book, and a embed/link your song.

This feels almost too easy. I usually listen to music when reading, and I am prone to listen to the same album over and over until I tire. Sometimes I am lucky enough that a song resonates what I'm reading, and then that song and that book are forever entwined in my mind. The song reminds me of the book, and vice versa.

 

My Life Would Suck Without You, a song by Kelly Clarkson, reminds me of Riley and Beck in the Demon Trappers books. Their relationship is turbulent, but they do seem destined to be together. Besides, I can totally see Riley throwing out his stuff out the window after a fight.

Challenge: Page 99 Test hosted by Nova Reylin @ My Seryniti

• Choose a book that you have on your to read list.
• Read page 99.
• Comment below and let us know how you feel! Did page 99 draw you in or push you away? Are you more curious or less?

I chose For a Few Demons More, the 5th book in the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison. In page 99 of my edition, Rachel and Jenks are discussing his daughter's suitors. I wasn't a big fan of Jenks at first, but now I adore him, and his relationship with Rachel. It's reassuring to read about him after what transpired in the last book. This excerpt makes me more curious to read about what's going on with Rachel and everyone this time around.

Challenge: Virtual Travels or Reading Around the World hosted by Stella @ Ex Libris

Choose a book and find a picture to match the setting you envision for the novel.

I ended up having no time to complete this.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Friday, August 17th

Pages: 106 (total so far: 858)

Hours: 2 hours (total so far: 15 hours)

Books: River Marked/O Diabo do Rio, Patricia Briggs (42%)
(previously read: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson; Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas)

Challenge: Book Spine Poetry hosted by bookgoonie @ bookgoonie

I’m crazy about Haikus. I love that they are short and sweet, kind of like a literary tweet. I thought the haiku format would provide a nice constraint to our Book Spine Poetry Challenge. Usually a haiku is about nature or feelings (but not necessary for our purposes) and they follow a 5-7-5 syllable format. Here is some more info about writing a haiku and some on Book Spine Poetry used in the classroom. I just did the chin test for my syllable count.

Oh dear, not poetry. I'm starting to think we are not meant to be, at least when writing it. Sitting this one out.

Challenge: Most Looking Forward To hosted by Alexa @ Pages of Forbidden Love

1~ What book are you most looking forward to based on summary alone? Feel free to show off the summary!
2~ What book are you most looking forward to based on cover art alone? Feel free to show off the beautiful cover art!

US one. Sitting this one out as well.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Thursday, August 16th

Pages: 172 (total so far: 752)

Hours: 3 hours (total so far: 13 hours)

Books: Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas (42% - finished it)
(previously read: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson)

Challenge: A Book for Every Season hosted by Kristilyn @ Reading in Winter

Name the perfect book for each season of the year! The book can either have the name of the season in the title, or — and this is the preferred way! — the book can take place in that specific season. Feel free to jazz it up however you like, by including pictures of the book to go with the name.

I will try to choose books that mean something, and explain why I chose them. I'll start with Winter, since it is the first season of the year, and the season I was born in (I kinda feel an affinity with it):

Winter - The Winds of Winter, George R.R. Martin

The upcoming and much anticipated book by this author, hopefully it will be released rather sooner than later.

Spring - Scandal in Spring, Lisa Kleypas

Very highly recommended author. Would like to read something by her soon.

Summer - That Summer, Sarah Dessen

I so want to read something by Sarah Dessen. Peharps this would be a good way to start.

Autumn - Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

I wanted to read this when I was younger. Somehow I never got to it.

Challenge: Candy Challenge hosted by BookSmartie @ BookSmartie

I don't know about you but I used to love eating and reading at the same time - I don't even know why. So for this challenge (also, because my rating system just screams candy) I'd like you to share either what's your favorite snack while reading - do you snack at all? Or do you - like me - sometimes try to eat (or drink) exactly what the characters in the story are having?

Oh, I do eat or drink when reading. Not frequently, but my beverage of choice would be a coffee or tea drink. Anything with either is fine. I'm more careful since the one time I spilled milk and coffee on my bed's stupid mattress, though. As for snacks, anything goes. Chocolate, anything nutty, cookies, a sandwich...

Challenge: Contemporary Challenge hosted by Cassie @ Books with Cass

• Choose your favorite contemporary of 2012 (thus far)
• Choose your favorite contemporary COVER of 2012 (thus far)
• And explain your biggest *SURPRISE* contemporary book of this year

I usually don't read contemporaries, and didn't read many in 2012 (if any at all), so I'll sit this one out - I feel way in over my head.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Wednesday, August 15th

Pages: 234 (total so far: 580)

Hours: 4 hours (total so far: 10 hours)

Books: Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas (58%)
(previously read: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson)

Challenge: Book Word Search hosted by Amber @ The Musings of ALMYBNENR

Today on The Musings of ALMYBNENR, I have a Book Word Search for you. I created a word search with twenty words, including my blog name and the Bout of Books name… you know, in case you need a reminder of what this is for. ;) The other eighteen words are the titles of all my absolute favorite reads so far this year.

That was fun! A bit hard on my eyes, to stare at the screen for so long, but I finished it. It was interesting to do a word search online.

Challenge: Match the Zombie Book Cover hosted by Andrea @ The Busy Bibliophile

Below are 13 books that feature zombies. I've scrambled out the titles and authors, though you probably recognize a few of them right away. They are numbered 1-13, in the upper left hand corner of the cover. Underneath the covers is a multiple choice quiz. For each question, choose the book name that you think matches the book cover of the same number.

Ha, this one was slightly harder. I wasn't familiar with a few books, but it was amusing to try to guess.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Tuesday, August 14th

Pages: 123 (total so far: 346)

Hours: 2 hours and a half (total so far: 6 hours)

Books: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson (finished it)

Challenge: Limerick Challenge hosted by Ellie Warren @ Curiosity Killed the Bookworm

For today's challenge, I'd like you to write me a bookish or bloggish limerick.

Our novels get longa and longa
Their language gets stronga and stronga
There’s much to be said
For a life that is led
In illiterate places like Bonga
H. G. Wells

A limerick is basically a 5 line poem, where lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme and lines 3 and 4 rhyme, along with other rules that you may wish to break. You can read much more helpful tips on writing your limerick here. The sillier the better!

I'm not sure whether to enter this one. I have a dread of writing poems, and the article about how to write a limerick totally scared me with that talk of meter and rhyming.

Challenge: Relocate hosted by Alissa @ The Grammarian's Reviews

What book are you reading, where does it take place, and where is it going to relocate?

I'm reading Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson, and it takes place mainly in Los Angeles (but also a bit in Mexico). I'm relocating to... Middle Earth! I'd like to watch Lila, Alex, Jack and the whole gang trying to kick some butt with swords. It would especially funny when it comes to Jack and Alex, who have a Marine background. I wonder how the "psy" would be welcomed into the Middle Earth, and I really wonder what Lila could do against Sauron and his evil minions, given what she is able to do in Losing Lila.

Challenge: Character Interaction hosted by Hannah @ Once Upon a Time

Hey guys! I’ve got a fun and creative challenge for you today. As such there will not be a winner as it’s going to be a bit of fun but maybe I’ll pick some honourary mentions if I get time. The Character Interaction challenge pretty much does what it says on the tin: take two characters from separate works of literature and show us how you’d imagine them interacting. Write it as a very short piece of fiction and don’t worry if you don’t think you’re much of a writer – it’s all in the name of fun! Just roll with it. Now think about these characters’ personalities. Are they strong willed or the quiet types? Would they fight? Kiss? Get drunk?

Unfortunately I didn't have the time to work on this, moving on.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Monday, August 13th

Pages: 223

Hours: 3 hours and a half

Books: Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson (64%)

Challenge: Literary BFFs hosted by Auggie @ Auggie Talk

Everyone has that one character. The character that they know they could relate to, get along with, have fun with, and laugh with. A literary BFF!

Tell us who your literary BFF is and why they're your always friend. What do you guys do together? What do you talk about? Get creative and let us know who your Literary Best Friend is!

As I struggled to answer this, many characters came to mind. I thought I should choose someone who is a lot like myself (maybe Anne Elliot, Penny Featherington, or Hermione Granger), but then I realized it should actually be someone like my best friend in real life, someone who is a bit unlike me, who completes me, in a way, and who teases me out of my shell. Someone like Lizzy Bennet, or Trixie Belden, or Lilly Moscovitz, who speak their mind and have a no-bullshit attitude, who are brave in their own way and fight for what they want.

Challenge: Passing Books hosted by Elsi @ Reading in Texas and Shaunesay @ The Space Between

To enter this challenge, tell us what happens to your books after you have read them.

Most books I read were bought by me, so I usually keep them. I might offer/sell/giveaway some, but a lot of them go to my personal library, to be re-read (at least parts of them) whenever I feel like, or to borrow to friends and family.

Bout of Books 5.0 Read-a-Thon - Starting Post

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 13th and runs through Sunday, August 19th 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 5.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books 5.0 team

Just ended a read-a-thon, and I'm about to enter another one! But it's an effective way of commit myself to reading, and to lower my TBR pile, so here I am. I plan on reading throughout the whole week.

My goals:

• Read every day, and at least for an hour or two (longer on the weekends);
• Enter some of the challenges (maybe all of them, if possible);
• Update my progress everyday (in separate posts);
• Read 2 (maybe 3, if possible) full books and a few comic books/graphic novels.

The books I'm planning to read - well, I created three piles, to allow me to be choosy, since I'm a mood reader:

My Want To Pile - books I really want to read:

• Forsaken, Lisa M. Stasse (I just noticed there is a dent on the book's spine - damn you, Book Depository and postal services)
• Losing Lila, Sarah Alderson
• Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas

My Back Up Pile - books I'd like to read soon, and might read them on a whim:

• Stray, Rachel Vincent
• Fated, Sarah Alderson
• The Pledge, Kimberly Derting
• Vixen, Jillian Larkin
• The World of Downton Abbey, Jessica Fellowes

My Comic Book Pile - comic books to read, probably on the weekend.