Saturday, October 31, 2015

Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge Finished

Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge hosted by Nothing But Reading Challenges.

Goal: Travel the world alphabetically! From A - Z use different settings and locals to read the alphabet. You may use the names of cities, counties, states, Providences, countries, lakes, oceans, mountain range, islands, national parks, etc.

For hard to find letters, like "X" and "Z", you may use settings with with the letter within the name.


Yes, you may use fictional settings.

Duration: You set the pace.


Start date is today the 18th of August 2013. I will keep going till I have finished.
Well that "only" took me just over two years to finish. I have had trouble with X and Z as could be expected but got there in the end.

26/26 books read

A: Arizona: Unwind by Neal Shusterman (finished 20th of August 2013) 
B: Brockport, New York: Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler (finished 12th of September 2013)
C: California: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (finished 12th of September 2013)
D:  Detroit: Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch (finished 26th of October 2014)
E: Europe: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (finished 26th of February 2014)
F: Florence, Oregon: A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James (finished 30th of December 2013)
G: Great Britain: Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett (finished 17th of October 2013)
H: Hampshire, England: Watership Down by Richard Adams (finished 25th of August 2013)
I: Illinois: Buried Child by Sam Shepard (finished 24th of November 2013)
J: Jutland: Ønskebarnet by Eddie Thomas Petersen (finished 24th of November 2013)
K: Kilmihil: Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
L: London, UK:
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch (finished 14th of February 2014)
M: Manchester, UK: Elidor by Alan Garner (finished 15th of November 2013)
N: Natatoria: Everblue by Brenda Pandos (finished 29th of August 2013)
O: Oz: Dorothy: The Darker Side of Oz by Scott Stanford (finished 23rd of August 2013)
P: Pacific Ocean: Life of Pi by Yann Martel (finished 19th of August 2013) 
Q: Quebec: Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs (finished 31st of March 2014)
R: Rockville: A little Christmas Magic by Sylvie Kurtz (finished 2nd of January 2014) 
S: Sticklepond: Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley (finished 5th of December 2013)
T: Tucson, Arizona: How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A. Reeves (finished 16th of October 2013)
U: Utah: Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey (finished 28th of September 2013)
V: Vegas: What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte (finished 16th of February 2014)
W: Wales The Owl Service by Alan Garner (finished 9th of September 2013)
X: Xanadu The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
Y: Yorkshire:
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet by James Herriot (finished 4th of June 2014)
Z: Zambia Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa by Marilyn Randall

A Million More Pages - Breast Cancer Spell Out Finished

Breast Cancer Spell Out hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

I wanted to do two spell outs for this challenge but I failed as I only read a total of 10 books this month and only 7 of them worked for this challenge.

Worldwide, breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women, accounting for 25% of all cases. In 2012 it resulted in 1.68 million cases and 522,000 deaths. It is more common in developed countries and is more than 100 times more common in women than in men. Source - Wikipedia

For More Information, Check the following sites:
Breastcancer.org
cancer.org
Mayoclinic.org

OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 31, 2015

Pick one or more of the following words to spell out. You may use
✦ Title
✦ Author Initial (first or last)
✦ Series Name

✦ You may use each book twice, but not within the same spell out. If you use a book more than once, you must use a different option for each usage

(i.e. you may use Title of Book A in PINK spell-out, and Author of Book A in RIBBON spell-out. You may not use Book A twice in PINK spell-out, and you may not use Title of Book A in RIBBON spell-out and MAMMOGRAM spell-out)

CHOICE OF SPELL-OUTS

PINK
RIBBON
BREAST
CANCER
MAMMOGRAM
MASTECTOMY
SURVIVOR
KOMEN
PINKTOBER
RESEARCH
RADIATION
CHEMOTHERAPY

NOTE: you may create your own work that is related to Breast Cancer; minimum letters=4. If it is not a standard/common word that is obvious, please provide an explanation of how the word fits the task

✪ Minimum Page Length: 125 (140 for YA)
✪ Are Rereads Allowed? Yes
☛ Restrictions?
✪ Can I start a book before Challenge Start Date? No
✪ Children Allowed with restrictions: Yes
Restrictions: must also have YA as Main Page Genre
✪ Posting Requirements when complete:
Book title/cover, date read
✪ Are Audiobooks Allowed? Yes
✪ Manga,Comics, Graphic Novels Allowed? No
✪ Can I Ignore A/An/The in Titles? Yes
✪ Author Names Count in Matching Letters? n/a
✪ Can a book be used more than once in this challenge?: Yes
If yes, any stipulations? May use a book twice, but must be in different spell-outs and using different options
✪ Can the Tasks be done in any order: Yes
✪ Can Series titles be used for meeting requirements? Yes
✪ Verification Required For Claiming Badge?: No
 


I'll spell PINKTOBER and RADIATION

P: Poisoned by Elaine Macko
I
N:
K: K.A. Young: Prophecy of the Female Warrior
T: Tui T. Sutherland: The Menagerie
O:
B: Backman, Fredrik: A man called Ove
E:
R: Randall, Marilyn: Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa 


R:
A: Alex Harris Mystery, The  #2: Poisoned by Elaine Macko
D: Donna McDonald: Carved in Stone
I: I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint  
A:
T:
I:
O:
N:

Books used:
  1. Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa by Marilyn Randall
  2. Poisoned by Elaine Macko
  3. I'll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint  
  4. Carved in Stone by Donna McDonald  
  5. A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman
  6. The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland 
  7. Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young

Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014 Finished

A-Z Locations - 2014 hosted by Crazy Challenge Connection on Goodreads.

I finished the last book the 17th of this month. I started out really fast but then got stuck on the usual letters but after looking through other peoples books I finally found my X location.

A–Z LOCATIONS 2014
Timeframe: 11/1/14 to 10/31/15

Once again we’re challenging you to read at least one book set in a location that begins with each letter of the alphabet.

You can use the name of a place in the book – Hogwarts, for example -- the name of the city or the name of the country in which most of the book is set, or even a generic place like a farm or zoo. For those fantasy and sci-fi books, you can use the name of the planet or world – for example, if you read Star Wars: A New Hope, you can use Tatooine for T.

If you have trouble finding locations beginning with Q, U, X, Y and Z, you may use a location in which the letter appears – for example: Punxsutawney for X. However, we’re asking that you NOT use this option until the last two months of the challenge, or until you have completed all but these letters. Please TRY to find a location beginning with the appropriate letter! You may only use each book once!

CHALLENGE RULES:

❖ If you want to participate in a challenge, sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

❖ Books must be at least 150 pages long (unless otherwise noted) and may only be used for one task in this challenge

❖ For each book you read, please post the location first, in addition to a link to the title and mention the author and the date you finished reading it. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task.

❖ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read.

❖ Rereads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not just skim the best portions!
 


List of books:

✔ A: Alcatraz ► The Enchantress by Michael Scott
✔ B: Bayport ► Enchanted Secrets by Kristen Middleton
✔ C: Chicago ► Mother Nature's Man by Mary Jo Burke
✔ D: Denmark ► Udvalgte historier fra Jul i Hjemmet by Morten Korch
✔ E: Edgewood ► Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
✔ F: France ► The Liquidator by John Gardner
✔ G: Great Britain ► The Circus Is Coming by Noel Streatfeild
✔ H: Herefordshire ► Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch
✔ I: Iowa ► Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
✔ J: Japan ►The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
✔ K: Kilmihil ► Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
✔ L: London ► Victoria Line, Central Line by Maeve Binchy
✔ M: Manhattan ► Toby Streams the Universe by Maya Lassiter
✔ N: Neverwhere ► Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
✔ O: Oklahoma ► The Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne
✔ P: Planet Pern ► Dragon's Fire by Anne McCaffrey and Todd J. McCaffrey
✔ Q: Quebec ► Iced Under by Nadine Doolittle
✔ R: Riverton ► The House At Riverton by Kate Morton
✔ S: San Fransisco ► The Warlock by Michael Scott
✔ T: Texas ► My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
✔ U: Utah ► Rasmus - Tales of a Utah Cowboy by Jay Anderson and Beth M. Stephenson
✔ V:Virginia ►The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
✔ W: Winstanton ► The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan
✔ X: Xanadu ► The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
✔ Y: Yorkshire ► All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
✔ Z: Zambia ► Don't Waste a Minute - A Story of Africa by Marilyn Randall

Wacky Reading Challenges - Book Tag Challenge #7 Finished

Book Tag Challenge #7 hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

This challenge went faster than I thought and I managed to read 9 of the 10 books already in September. My last book as expected was the classics, I usually find them boring and that was also the case this time.

Book Tag Challenge, #7
Duration: 3 Months from Start Date - September 1st - November 30th

Below is a list of 10 'tags', also referred to as 'shelves'. The challenge is to find and read a book for each tag. In order for the book to count, the tag (or shelf) must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves, and must match exactly. If you are unsure about the location of the tag, or concerned it will drop from the second page, it's a good idea to post a message here, so that Jan or I can verify it for you.

To find a list of tags for your book, click on the book's home page, then click the link - 'see top shelves', found just below "Genres" on the right side of the page. The first page of shelves will populate. Down at the bottom will be a list of page numbers, where you can access page 2.

You may start the challenge at any time. The end date will be three months from your start date.

Challenge Rules:
Tags must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves. Books must be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable. Re-reads are fine--just be sure to re-read the entire book. When updating your challenge with the books you've read, include the book title link, include the author's name, and the date you finished reading the book.


List of Tags:
1. adventure: Fire Country by David Estes
2. to-get: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
3. 2008: The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
4. bookshelf: Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
5. epub: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
6. 5-stars: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
7. classics: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
8. abandoned: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
9. mine: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
10. favorite-authors: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

A Million More Pages - Summer Song Shuffle Finished

Summer Song Shuffle hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

This is a challenge that could be done alone or as a group. I chose to do it alone. I managed only 5 books for this challenge and finished level 1. My books just didn't fit the tasks.
I got a badge for finishing level 1:


♫♫♫ Summer Song Shuffle ♫♫♫
Starts: August 22, 2015
Ends: October 31, 2015


Certain songs just feel like summer, don't they? Below is a list of songs that some people might associate with summer for different reasons. Roll the random number generator (link below) for each book to find out which song you are going to "listen to". You *must* keep your number and fulfill the task before moving on to another song. You may skip a song if you really can't do or don't like the task but you may only use so many skips per level (see below). If you decide to skip a song, please keep a record of it. If you land on a song you've already listened to, roll again, if you'd like. OR you can "repeat" the task, using another book.

*Since I'm posting this SO late in the season, you may work on this with a partner (up to 5 people, including yourself), in order to maximize those levels for the badges we all love. You will each earn credit for the level you complete as partners. If you choose to work with a partner(s), please keep let me know who you team up with when you sign up. Anyone can play together; you do not have to be in the same cabin. If you don't have a specific friend to sign up with, let me know if you want to be partnered up randomly and with how many other people (maximum of 4 other people). I will partner people up as you sign up. If you work with partners, I will set up a thread where you can discuss your rolls and who will read for which task. You can split them up however you want, but everyone must read a certain number of books based on levels - see below.

Levels:
☀ 1 = 5 songs (may skip one time) [each person must read 1 book; the remainder can be split however you like]
☀ 2 = 10 songs (2 skips) [at least 2 books per person, etc]
☀ 3 = 15 songs (3 skips) [at least 2 books per person, etc]
☀ 4 = 20 songs (3 skips) [at least 3 books per person, etc]
☀ 5 = 25 songs (4 skips) [at least 4 books per person, etc]
☀ 6 = 30 songs (4 skips) [at least 5 books per person, etc]
☀ 7 = 35 songs (5 skips) [at least 6 books per person, etc]
☀ 8 = 35 songs (NO skips = all 35 tasks OR 35 total tasks with repeated tasks) [at least 6 books per person, etc]


Standard Rules:
✪ Minimum Page Length: 125 (140 for YA; 200 for MG)
✪ Are Rereads Allowed? Yes
✪ Can I start a book before Challenge Start Date? Nope! Books may not be started until after you roll and discover your task.
✪ Children Allowed with restrictions: Yes
☛ Restrictions: must also have YA/Middle Grade as Main Page Genre (If strictly, or more frequently shelved as MG, page length must be at least 200)
✪ Posting Requirements when complete:
Book title/cover, author, date read
✪ Are Audiobooks Allowed? Yes
✪ Manga,Comics, Graphic Novels Allowed? Not unless the task specifically asks for this.
✪ Can I Ignore A/An/The in Titles? Yes, but you do not *have* to
✪ Can a book be used more than once in this challenge? ONLY if it is read by different people in your partnership
✪ Can the Tasks be done in any order: Yes, it is completely randomized


 To make your roll, go to Random Number Generator and generate a number between 1 and 35. Click the "Get Number" button and whatever number is generated is the "song" (task) you will "play" by reading a book that fits the task:

1. Magic, by The Cars - Main page genre: Magic; OR Title starts with M
2. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, by Kenny Chesney - Topless male on the cover; OR a title with at least one repeating word
3. Wicked Game, by Chris Isaak - Author's first name starts with C; OR a book with a 'wicked' character
4. I'm on a Boat, by The Lonely Island - Boat on the cover; OR Takes place on an island
5. So What, by Pink - About a character who moves on from a broken relationship; OR a book published in August (any year)
6. Summer Nights, from the Grease soundtrack - About a summer romance; OR Book made into a movie
7. Love Shack, by The B-52s - A romance novel; OR Two words in title
8. Crazy in Love, by Beyonce - An author's first published book; OR a book from the You're Crazy if you Haven't Read This Yet Listopia
9. Let's Twist Again, by Chubby Checker - Read a book from Best Strange & Twisted Memoirs list; OR by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter
10. Summer of '69, by Bryan Adams - Takes place mostly during the summer; OR Historical Fiction
11. Surfin' USA, by The Beach Boys - Takes place in California; OR a beach on the cover
12. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, by Cyndi Lauper - A book about female friends; OR a book from Strong Female Leads in Lit-Fiction All Genres List
13. Happy, by Pharrell Williams - A smiley/smiling face on the cover; OR a book with a hat on the cover
14. Emotions, by Mariah Carey - Read a book with one of the following emotions in the title: Love/Loving, Hate, Happy, Sad, Joy, Heartbroken/Heartbreak, Rage, Intimate, Warm, Terrified, Scared; OR a book on the Emotion Overload Listopia
15. I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston - Read a book with a female on the cover; OR a book with "Dance" in the title
16. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - Read a book that takes place in Hawai'i; OR at least 3 colors in the cover
17. Roll It Gal, by Alison Hinds - A book that takes place in the Caribbean; OR has a body of water on the cover
18. Cruel Summer, by Bananarama - Read one book from a trilogy; OR a book by multiple authors
19. September, by Earth, Wind & Fire - A book published in September of any year; OR a book with a (sapphire) blue cover
20. Genie in a Bottle, by Christina Aguilera - Read a book with a main genre of Paranormal or Urban Fantasy; OR a Young Adult novel
21. Street Fighting Man, The Rolling Stones - Read a book from the London Calling listopia; OR a book by an author with the initials R. S. (in that order)
22. California Gurls, by Katy Perry, featuring Snoop Dogg - A book with Girl/Girls in the title; OR with food on the cover
23. Brighter than the Sun, by Colbie Caillat - A yellow cover; OR a blond(e) character
24. Escapade, by Janet Jackson - Read a book about a character who "gets away from it all"; OR road trip/adventure fiction or non-fiction
25. Hot in Herre, by Nelly - Read a book by an author who uses only one name; OR a book from the Hottest Guy on Cover List
26. Heatwave, by Martha and the Vandellas - A book with a heart on the cover; OR a red cover
27. Summertime, by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - A book with a time of day or some measurement of time in the title (Day, Night, Evening, Afternoon, Morning, Dusk, Dawn, Twilight), one of the 4 seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn - Fall will not be accepted), Any month of the year, Any day of the week; OR a book published in June, July or August
28. Summer Love, by Justin Timberlake - Written by a male author; OR any stand-alone book
29. Smooth, by Santana & Rob Thomas - Book with a one-word title; OR title that starts with the letter "S"
30. Walking on Sunshine, by Katrina and the Waves - Has a sun on the cover; OR either a title that starts with W or an author whose last name starts with W
31. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys - Read a book about a musician (fiction or non); OR has double B's in the title
32. Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - A book with a beverage on the cover; OR a book from the Second Chance Romance Listopia
33. In Summer, by Olaf (From "Frozen") - Read a Graphic Novel/Manga; OR has snow on the cover
34. Boys of Summer, by Don Henley - Book about baseball; OR the word "boy/boys" in the title
35. Closing Time, by Semisonic - The final book in a series; OR about a bartender

Roll 1: 2 : No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, by Kenny Chesney
Topless male on the cover; OR a title with at least one repeating word
Evidence of Trust by Stacey Joy Netzel

Roll 2: 9 : Let's Twist Again, by Chubby Checker
Read a book from Best Strange & Twisted Memoirs list; OR by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig

Roll 3: 15 : I Wanna Dance With Somebody, by Whitney Houston -
Read a book with a female on the cover; OR a book with "Dance" in the title
Fire Country by David Estes

Roll 4: 6 : Summer Nights, from the Grease soundtrack -
About a summer romance; OR Book made into a movie
Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe

Roll 5: 26 : Heatwave, by Martha and the Vandellas -
A book with a heart on the cover; OR a red cover
Carved in Stone by Donna McDonald
*******************************************************************

Roll 5: 17 : Roll It Gal, by Alison Hinds -
A book that takes place in the Caribbean; OR has a body of water on the cover

Prophecy of the Female Warrior by K.A. Young

Anna Wilkins is a prototypical housewife. She buys groceries, picks up the dry cleaning and hosts dinner parties. Everything was picture perfect from the outside looking in until the life she was born to live collided with the life she was living. Her husband is murdered by a creature from another realm, a creature that is only visible to her. Through her pain, his death awakens a part of her she didn't know existed. She is then thrust into a life of Vampires, Werewolves and Sexy Nephilim Warriors. Drawn to her by a bond as old as their race, a Nephilim Warrior finds Anna at her darkest hour and seeks to arouse what lies dormant within her. The scorching sexual attraction she and the Warrior feel for one another may be beyond anything either of them can control... From Goodreads.






I wanted to read this as I started to read a series that is a spin off of this one. It was okay and it is going to be interesting to follow Anna in the next books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
Rawk-A-Tiers: Travel Around the World
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Breast Cancer
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My

Wacky Reading Challenges - Favorite Album - Away From the Sun Finished

Favorite Album - Away From the Sun hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

My goal was Disc Three = 7+ Tasks. Unfortunately I didn't reach my goal as none of the 10 books I read in October fit this challenge. I finished 6 books.


Our next favorite album challenge will focus on "Away From the Sun" by 3 Doors Down. Thanks to Barb for this recommendation!
Date: 09/01/15 - 10/31/15

Levels of Participation
Disc One = 1 to 3 Tasks
Disc Two = 4 to 6 Tasks
Disc Three = 7+ Tasks

Choose a level of participation and complete the required number of tasks. Tasks can be mixed. For example, if you choose to do the Disc One Level (1 to 3 tasks), you may choose to complete a task for numbers 1, 2 and 3, OR you may choose to do a task for numbers 2, 5, and 9.

Challenge Rules:
Books should be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable. Re-reads are fine--just be sure to re-read the entire book. When updating your challenge with books you've read, please include a link to the book title, mention the author's name, and post the date you finished reading the book.


1. Away From the Sun:
Is the second studio album released by 3 Doors Down. It was released on November 12, 2002. Read a book originally published in November (any year), OR a Series/TBR #2.
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig (first published November 26th 2007)

2. Recording Sessions:
Took place during the summer of 2002. Read a book with a summer related cover, or a Series/TBR #1.
Fire at Twilight by Lila Ashe (The Firefighters of Darling Bay #1)

3. Producer:
It was produced by Rick Parashar at London Bridges Studios on Seattle, Washington. Read a book with a character named Rick (any variation will also work), OR a Series/TBR #3.
Born in Shame by Nora Roberts (Born In trilogy #3)

4. Length:
The album is 47 minutes, 57 seconds in long. Read a book in a position on your TBR that contains the number '4', '6', '5', or '7', OR a Series Book #4.

5. 3 Doors Down:
Is an American rock band from Escatawpa, Mississippi. Read a book set in Mississippi, OR a Series/TBR #5.

6. Singles:
Four singles were released from the album: "When I'm Gone", The Road I'm On", "Here Without You", and "Away From the Sun". Read a book whose title starts with 'W', 'T', 'H' or 'A', OR a Series/TBR #6.
Touch of the Goddess by Maria Hammarblad (title starts with T)

7. Cover:
The album cover is primarily black with white lettering, and features a small burst of sun or sunlight. Read a book with a black and white cover, or one with the sun on the cover, OR a Series/TBR #7.

8. 4 Million Copies:
The album has sold over 4 million copies world wide. Read a book with a Goodreads rating above 4, or a Series/TBR #8.
A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews (rating 4.09)

9. US Billboard 200:
The album is listed at #110 on the US Billboard 200 for their End of Decade Charts, 2000-2009. Read a book with the number 1 or 0 in the total number of pages, OR a Series/TBR #9.
The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa (164 pages)

10. Label:
The album was released on the Universal Records label. Read a book whose title starts with 'U', OR a Series/TBR #10. 

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Finished

Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015.


I am actually finishing a little early as I have just finished my fourth book and there is no time to start another.

As usually I have enjoyed taking part in Dewey's Read-a-Thon and it has been really cosy with my husband and sister also taking part again.

Something new was my hourly updates, it was nothing much but it was interesting to see how my reading progressed during the 24 hours instead of just updating when I finished a book. I might do that again next time.

List of books read:
    1. A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman 
    2. The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland  
    3. 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber 
    4. What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Closing Survey

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015.

      Closing Survey

      Which hour was most daunting for you?
      Surprisingly enough I think it was when I was waking up after my 4 hour sleep.

      Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
      A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman

      Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
      No, I think you are doing a great job as it is.

      What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
      I think it looked like the prize winning form was an easy way to claim prizes.

      How many books did you read?
      I read 4 books.

      What were the names of the books you read?
      A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman
      The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
      204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
      What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York

      Which book did you enjoy most?
      A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman which actually surprised me.

      Which did you enjoy least?
      What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York. But it might be because this was not a book I had chosen beforehand.

      If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
      N/A

      How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
      I am very likely to take part again as that will be my tenth time taking part. I will be a reader as I have been every time.

      What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York

      She shuttered her heart and walked away...
      Heading home always stirs up mixed emotions for Laney Calhoun. Twelve years ago she left for graduate school, broken-hearted. She's found professional success, but positive personal relationships have proved elusive. Running into her ex-boyfriend fans flames she thought long extinguished, and causes a renewed interest in love. Not with Kyle, of course. Never again. But as sparks fly and items of clothing disappear, she scrambles to keep her emotions in check.
      ...Now he has a second chance to get it right.
      Kyle Nixon let Laney slip away once. Their chemistry together is undeniable, but steamy sex is not enough to convince her to let him back into her heart. Even if she did trust him again, her career as a paediatric surgeon is five hundred kilometers away from the hometown that he loves, and the life he once chose over her.
      Come home to Wardham. Come home to love.
      From Goodreads.

      This was okay, not great but okay. A cosy, easy to read second chance romance.

      This book qualifies for:
      Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
      The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
      Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
      A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
      A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
      A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Animal House
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
      Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Update hour 19-24

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015.



      19 hours into the read-a-thon

      Got woken up a bit earlier than hoped for and have had my breakfast. Now I need to figure out what to read for the last 5 hours.







      20 hours into the read-a-thon








      What Once Was Perfect (Wardham, #1)

      Spent the last hour pottering about and trying to decide what to read the last 4 hours. I have decided on What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York as it seems like a cosy easy read.






      21 hours into the read-a-thon







      What Once Was Perfect (Wardham, #1)

      3 hours left, everything is moving a bit slow this morning and I have only managed 25 pages. But as it is a 165 page book I should still be able to finish it.






      22 hours into the read-a-thon








      What Once Was Perfect (Wardham, #1)

      50% of my last book read and I will surely finish it in time.



       


       23 hours into the read-a-thon







      What Once Was Perfect (Wardham, #1) 
        

      Entering the last hour and looking back on a great Read-a-Thon. Just need to finish the last few pages of my fourth book.




      24 hours have gone and the Read-a-Thon is over. 

      I finished my last book with half an hour to spare and I managed to read 4 books in total.

      204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

      Olivia Lockhart
      Cedar Cove, Washington

      Dear Reader, 
      If you've been to Cedar Cove before, you've probably met my friend Grace Sherman. You can usually find her at home she lives at 204 Rosewood Lane or at the public library, where she works. Like me, she grew up in this town and she's raised two daughters here. But did you hear that about six months ago, her husband disappeared? Just …disappeared. Where's Dan? Why did he go? Who's he with? Will Grace ever find out?

      I hope that all of us, her family and friends, are bringing her comfort during this difficult time. Comfort and a sense of shelter. I'm continually reminded that life can and does go on. For instance, everyone's been discussing weddings and babies lately. Justine, my daughter, rather impulsively got married a little while ago. Grace's daughter Kelly recently had a baby. Unfortunately, she refuses to accept that Dan might not return to see his first grandchild. Grace's older daughter, Maryellen, is more realistic. Grace thinks she's seeing a new man but for some reason won't say who it is.
      Then there's Jack Griffin, our local newspaper editor, the man I've been seeing. And… well, I have lots to tell you. Come on over and we'll talk!
      Olivia. From Goodreads.

      I have now read this second book in the Cedar Cove series and I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of different people to keep tabs on but I like that. This book is very much about Grace and her life which is quite sad. I am definitely going to continue this series.

      This book qualifies for:
      Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015
      Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
      The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
      Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
      A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
      Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Update hour 13-18

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015.



      13 hours into the read-a-thon



      204 Rosewood Lane (A Cedar Cove Novel)



      I am only about a hundred pages from finishing my book but I think I am getting ready for my snooze.




      14 hours into the read-a-thon

      204 Rosewood Lane (A Cedar Cove Novel) I have finished my book and now I am ready to go to bed or at least to sleep 5 hours on my sister's sofa.
      I am very pleased that I have liked all 3 books that I have read. I will be back after some serious zzzzzzzzz




      15 - 18 hours into the read-a-thon
      Slept soundly these 4 hours.

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Mid-Event Survey

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015.

      1. What are you reading right now?
      204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

      2. How many books have you read so far?
      This is my third book.

      3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
      As I had only planned 3 books I don't know what I am looking forward to.

      4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
      This weekend has been set aside for reading and there has been no interruptions.

      5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
      It is 1.30am here and I am feeling more awake at this time than I expected, I haven't even started feeling drowsy yet. 

      Saturday, October 17, 2015

      The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland

      Logan Wilde is accidentally drawn into the mysterious, dangerous world of the Menagerie when he discovers a griffin hiding under his bed . . . and it leads him straight to the weirdest girl in seventh grade, Zoe Kahn.
      Zoe is panicking. Her family has been guarding the Menagerie for centuries. If they don't get the cubs back fast, the whole place will be shut down. To save the griffins' lives, she's willing to break all the rules, even if it means letting an outsider like Logan help. But the real mystery remains: Is someone trying to sabotage the Menagerie?
      From Goodreads.






      This was a fun book full of mythical beings. I think it was a good book for the age group it has been written for. I borrowed it from the library but as of this time it doesn't seem like the library has the next book in the series but I will keep an eye on it.

      This book qualifies for: (the 3 last are linked as there is not room in the tag line)
      Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015
      I love Library books 2015
      Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
      Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
      The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
      Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Travel Around the World
      Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
      A Million More Pages: Breast Cancer
      A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
      A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
      Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
      Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge
      Nothing but Reading Challenges: 50 States Challenge
      Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly
      Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015 - Update hour 7-12

      Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015. 




      7 hours into the read-a-thon





      The Menagerie (Menagerie, #1)

      Read 120 pages of The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland. It is clearly a Young Adult and younger book but fun with all the mythological animals.








      8 hours into the read-a-thon





      The Menagerie (Menagerie, #1)


      Still reading The Menagerie and enjoying it. Eating some carrot and cucumber snacks.







      9 hours into the read-a-thon






      The Menagerie (Menagerie, #1)
      Just finished The Menagerie which ended on a serious cliffhanger. I liked it so I will order the next in the series from the library. Update: The second book is not available in the Danish library, I might have to buy it from Amazon.



      10 hours into the read-a-thon



      204 Rosewood Lane (A Cedar Cove Novel) 


      Started 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber and have reached page 70. I don't think I should wait several months between these books as there is a lot of people to keep track of.








      11 hours into the read-a-thon





      204 Rosewood Lane (A Cedar Cove Novel) 
      Still reading 204 Rosewood Lane and gotten to page 138 of 368. I am hoping to finish it before needing to sleep but I am not sure I will make it.








       12 hours into the read-a-thon





      204 Rosewood Lane (A Cedar Cove Novel)

      Halfway through and still going fairly strong.
      Page 241 but getting a wee bit tired. Time to put on the pyjamas.