Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Wrap-Up

So it is about 6 hours after the Read-a-Thon ended, and I'm ready to fill out the End of Event meme. Here it is, below:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?Hours 1-5 because I was asleep, or Hours 13-15 because I had social obligations that prevented me from reading!
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?The Selection by Kiera Cass is really fast and an easy read, that I enjoyed. It seems like a lot of people enjoy Cinder as well, by Marissa Meyer.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?Not really.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?Having update posts every hour was really nice to see, and I like the check-up survey in the middle.
5. How many books did you read?One full book, and parts of two others.
6. What were the names of the books you read?Crisis by Robin Cook (last 73 pages)
   City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (entire book)
   I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidoe (first 156 pages)
7. Which book did you enjoy most?I enjoyed all my books, but the last bit of Crisis was probably my favorite. I also liked City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.
8. Which did you enjoy least?I, Michael Bennett. It was still a good book, though!
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?I didn't sign up officially as a cheerleader, but I did stop by some blogs during the Read-a-Thon to break it up a little.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?Very likely! It was such a fun event that I've been meaning to participate in since forever, and I'm so glad I got a day where I could just sit around and read. I'll probably participate as a reader or a cheerleader, since I like doing both.

Some final stats...
Total Pages Read: 713 pages
Total Time Read: 11.5 Hours
Total Blog Posts: 12
Total Mini-Challenges Participated In: 1

I hope everyone had a fantastic Read-a-Thon! I know I did.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 24

Hello, again. This is going to be my final update of the "official" Read-a-Thon, and whenever I wake up, I'll fill out the End of Event survey, assuming they have it still up and available! I'll do a more official wrap up then, but for now here's my summary of the last hour.

Hour: The Read-a-Thon just ended.
Currently Reading: I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidoe
Pages Read Since Last Update: 75
Total Pages Read: 713
Time Read: I wasn't paying attention, but I'll say around an hour, which adds up to around 11 Hours, 25 Minutes as a running total
Comments: My first Read-a-Thon was an absolute joy! I read more pages, and for more hours than I expected to be able to, and I can't believe I stayed up until 5:05 am (my time right now) reading. Will I regret it tomorrow? Probably, but I'm still pleased as punch today. I, Michael Bennett was a good choice for late in the Read-a-Thon because it's easy to read, fast, and enjoyable.

Like I said before, tomorrow I will put up my End of Event Survey and Wrap-Up post, but for now, it's time for some shut-eye! Thanks to the folks at Dewey's for hosting such a fantastic Read-a-Thon and I hope everyone had as fun a time as I did!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 23

Salutations, again. Well, I'm at the home stretch now! It's 3:42 am my time, and I've surprised myself by being able to stay up for this long.

Hour: 40 minutes after Hour 23
Currently Reading: I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidoe
Pages Read Since Last Update: 81
Total Pages Read: 638
Time Read: I'd say, an hour and 20 minutes since I last checked in, which adds up to around 10 Hours, 25 Minutes as a running total
Comments: Well, my internet is acting up first off. It makes it hard to get to the Dewey site with all this interruption.
I got to read the first 25 pages or so of my new book in my comfy green armchair with a purple blanket cozied around me, but then I had to go lights out which means reading by my super dim book light! Yikes! I'll manage, though I don't know if I'm going to make it through to Hour 24. I feel awake enough that I could probably do it with a proper light source, but at the moment I'm feeling quite sleepy...

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 21

It's 1:34 in the morning, my time, which means I'm the only one still awake in mi casa. Some peace and quiet at last! I was getting rather sleepy around Hour 20 or so, but I'm glad I managed to push through because I finally finished my first whole book of the Read-a-Thon!

Hour: Half past Hour 21
Currently Reading: I just finished reading City of Bones by Cassandra Clare! 
Pages Read Since Last Update:  160
Total Pages Read: 557
Time Read: 2 Hours, 35 minutes since the last update, which adds up to around 9 Hours, 5 Minutes as a running total
Comments: As I said, I was feeling a bit drowsy these past hours, but I'm so happy I managed to finish City of Bones. It was exciting, and an interesting read, so I will probably be picking up the next book in the series next time I visit the library! It's even given me a bit of a book hangover, but that also might be because I've been reading it for 2 and a half hours straight.
I think I might start a bit of my next book, I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson, but I don't think I'll get to far. (Another crime novel, I think. Crisis was a crime novel as well. Not my usual genre but I've been craving some crime novels lately!)
I hope I'll be awake to update before I finally retire to bed (I don't think I'll be making it to Hour 24), but just in case: good night!

I also participated in my first mini-challenge, The Moment You Fall in Love With a Book challenge. Now, off to start reading my next book, despite my slight book hangover!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 18

I haven't been very productive reading-wise at all over the past 4 hours. My bad. I'm hoping I can finish my current read before the end of the Read-a-Thon though, and maybe even start a third book (wishful thinking?).

Hour: A quarter till Hour 19
Currently Reading: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
Pages Read Since Last Update: 2
Total Pages Read: 397
Time Read: Only about 2 minutes since last update, so still I've been reading for almost 6.5 hours
Comments: No, that wasn't a typo. I've only read 2 pages since the last update, so currently I'm on page 325 of City of Bones. It's just getting good, too! But I thought I'd pop in to update, on the off chance that I don't get another chance to later tonight.
I ended up having a S'more (marshmallow roasted until gooey over fire, then smushed between two graham crackers with a piece or two of chocolate.), hanging out with some neighborhood kids for an hour or two, and then watched the movie Unbroken. It's adapted from a book (which is based off a true story) so that still counts, right? Right?
Anyway, I have some almonds and a granola bar along with a glass of water in case I get hungry or thirsty later tonight.
I'm hoping to get some good reading in now, and with any luck, I won't get distracted.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 15

I haven't updated for three hours, but I've gotten quite a bit of reading done, so all is good! I'm feeling really good right now, and actually very awake. I think hours 11 to 12 were my 'reading slump' phase of the Read-a-Thon, but now I'm feeling much better and ready to read even more!

Hour: Hour 15
Currently Reading: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
Pages Read Since Last Update: 120
Total Pages Read: 395
Time Read: I've been reading in chunks for the past three hours, (45 minutes, break, 45 minutes, break, 35 minutes). After adding all that up, I've been reading for almost 6.5 hours
Comments: I relocated myself to the spare room, and then took a short break to do a bout of cheerleading. After reading for about 45 minutes more, I had to break for dinner, which we ate outside. (Cheeseburgers with tater tots). Since it was such a nice evening, I decided to read on the hammock for about half an hour, but it got cold so I came back inside. It sounds like we're going to be roasting some marshmallows and watching a movie soon, so I don't know how much reading I will be able to get done between now and my next update post.
I'm really enjoying this book so far though, so hopefully I'll be able to get plenty of reading done!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Mid Event Survey

The Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon site posted this mid event survey to fill out on Hour 12! I filled mine it out below:

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?

My current read is City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. It's the first in the six-book Mortal Instruments series.

 2. How many books have you read so far?

I finished the last 73 pages of Crisis by Robin Cook, and then my current read. I enjoyed/am enjoying both of them!

 3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I don't have any books planned out to read after City of Bones, so I guess I'm looking forward to finishing that!

 4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

I had to do some housework earlier today, but other than that, I've been left alone to read. Yay!

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

I didn't think I would be able to read this much. I've read for about 4.5 hours so far, which is more time than I usually get to read during the day. I'm hoping to read more tonight as well.


How is everyone's Read-a-Thon going? I hope everyone who's participating (as both reader or cheerleader) are having fun and keeping hydrated!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 12

Hi, friends! It's officially been 12 hours since the Read-a-Thon started which means we've hit the mid-way point. How are your eyes feeling? Tired?


Hour: Hour 12. Halfway there!
Currently Reading: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
Pages Read Since Last Update: 56
Total Pages Read: 275
Time Read: 1 Hour, 5 Minutes since my last update, so I've read somewhere around 4 hours, 20 minutes in total
Comments: My dog came and snuggled with me under the coffee table for quite some time, which was very sweet of her. Even if she hasn't bathed in awhile.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 10

Hello, again! Since I last updated, I've done a bit of housework, and grabbed a granola bar and a peanut butter bagel for lunch. I've loved having a relaxing day set aside just for reading! I tried to read outside for a bit, but there are so many bees around that I was forced to come back inside.

Hour: Half past Hour 10.
Currently Reading: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
Pages Read Since Last Update: 106
Total Pages Read: 219
Time Read: About 90 minutes since my last update, so I've read somewhere around 3 hours, 15 minutes in total
Comments: Wow! We're almost halfway through the Read-a-Thon already! I slept through the first 5 Hours, but it's all seemed to fly past super quickly. I've been lucky to get the house to myself these past couple hours, since my brother has a baseball game that the rest of the family went out to watch.
I just finished Part One of City of Bones and I'm finding it rather enjoyable so far.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 8

Hello, again! It's a little after noon (Hour 8 of the Read-a-Thon) and I've decided to take a quick break to update on my progress.

Hour: About 10 minutes after Hour 8.
Currently Reading: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 
Pages Read Since Last Update: 40
Total Pages Read: 113
Time Read: About 45 minutes since my last update, so 1 Hour, 45 Minutes in total
Comments: I'm finding it a bit hard to get into City of Bones at the moment, but it is a very fast read, so that's good! Right now, I'm thinking about doing some laundry and taking a shower, just to get refreshed before starting up my read again.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour 6

It's almost Hour 7, and I just finished my first book. Admittedly, it was one I had been reading beforehand, but the ending was so gripping and amazing! It had me hooked. I had my predictions about the ending, but wow, were they wrong. Crisis by Robin Cook is an awesome read if you like watching medical dramas or Judge Judy. It was a mash-up between the two, with a sprinkle of mystery and car chases thrown in.

Hour: A quarter till Hour 7.
Currently Reading: I'm about to move on to City of Bones
Pages Read Since Last Update: 73
Total Pages Read: 73
Time Read: Around one hour
Comments: I'm feeling pretty good so far, and I just really want to talk about the ending of Crisis with someone. I went out on a limb by reading it, but I'm glad I did.
Now, onto City of Bones!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Opening Meme

In case you were unaware, today is Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon, which takes place twice every year, in April and October. The goal is to read as many pages as you can in a 24 time period. This is my first time participating, and I've been so excited all week!

It's already Hour 5, and I've just had time to wake up, and visit a few blogs. Now, I'm going to eat breakfast then get started on my first book!

Opening Meme:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest of the USA!

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
I'm excited to finish my current read, Crisis by Robin Cook, and to start City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
At the moment? Whatever's for breakfast!

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I'm a high school student whose Prom is later today. I'm not going, but it's still rather a coincidence. (Also, it's the 25th Anniversary of the first time the Hubble Telescope was launched into space. The more you know?)

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
This is my first Dewey's Read-a-Thon, though I participated in Bout of Books last summer. I'm excited to get a lot of reading done and visit some blogs of people who are also participating in this event!


Thanks for reading, if you are also using the time of the Read-a-Thon to get some books read, then good luck! Make sure to take care of yourself by staying hydrated, eating plenty, and getting lots of rest.

March 2015 Book Haul

I bought books last month! After a trip to a very large bookstore, I spent my Christmas money on 5 books.

• Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

I own the first three books in this series and they were all so addicting that I had to buy this one too. I also got it very cheap... only five dollars for the new cover paperback, I believe? So at a great price.

• The Battle for WondLa by Tony Diterlizzi

Not only did I get this cheap as well, I got it in hardback! And even better, this means I finally own an entire trilogy in hardback. I love the illustrations and fun world building in this trilogy, and I'm glad I finally get to read the last book.

• Peter and the Starcatchers by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry

This was a book of my childhood. I got the hardback for only $7.50 (USD) and was very, very happy! I love this book, and now I get to own my own copy of it, hopefully for a re-read in the near future...

• Soulless by Gail Carriger

I saw this in somebody's booktube Book Haul, and decided to give it a try. It's about vampires and werewolves in Victorian London, and the main character is soulless... something called a "preternatural" in this world. I finished reading this last week actually, but I'll talk more about it in my April  wrap up.

• Kiki Strike and the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller

This was the final book I bought, and I really bought it on a whim. It's a middle grade novel, I think, (despite it's being in the YA section?), and I've finished reading this one as well! Again, I'll talk more about it in the April wrap up, so I hope you stick around until then.

Have you read any of these books? If so, what are your opinions on them?

March 2015 Reading Wrap Up

Another late wrap-up post...
Better late than never, right?  Without further ado...

This month I read 5 books!
(All links lead to Goodreads)
 ---
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

This one is the first in a high fantasy trilogy. It features a strong female heroine named Lucero-Elisa, who was born a bearer of a stone in her belly called the Godstone. I really appreciated the diversity in this book, but some parts were just a bit... boring? And I had a problem with the romance in this first book, but I don't want to spoil anything for you!
4/5 stars on Goodreads

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

This is the second book in the afore-mentioned trilogy. Most of the time, second book in a trilogy has a "lull" to it. It slows down near the middle. But, oh, boy, this book was the opposite of all that. This book sped up. It was a wonderfully written book, with a "ship I didn't think I would ship until oops I ship them my bad."
5/5 stars on Goodreads

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

The final book in the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. I did a very long, extensive review of the entire trilogy on Goodreads, which you can find here. Don't worry, spoilers are kept inside of spoiler brackets!
4.5/5 stars on Goodreads

172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

NEVER LOOKING AT THE MOON THE SAME WAY AGAIN. Seriously, this book was so creepy. I made the mistake of reading it at two in the morning, and guess who couldn't fall asleep afterwards? Yeah. This book was a real page-turner, and I could not put it down. If you want a suspenseful page-turner with a daring ending, then this is definitely the book for you.
4/5 stars on Goodreads

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

Let's be honest with each other. This was by far the weakest Vampire Academy novel so far. It was so boring at some parts and just did not interest me in the least. I'm sorry Ms. Mead, but it didn't. The plot twists in it still surprised me, and I finished it pretty fast, but I can only hope the last two books are stronger than this one was.
I was lenient and gave it 3.5/5 stars on Goodreads