~Once Upon a Read-a-Thon - FINAL Update~

"Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th. 

I ended the Read-a-Thon reading: "Iron House" by John Hart

# of Pages Read (of last book): 278 (out of 432 pages) 

  

Total # Pages Read: 1,908 pages

Total # of Books Read (completed during Read-a-Thon): 5

Names of Books Completed: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton, "The Mistress's Revenge" by Tamar Cohen, "The Peach Keeper" by Sarah Addison Allen, "Divergent" by Veronica Roth, "Protect the Heart" by LK Hunsaker, and "Iron House" by John Hart (Incomplete).

 

 

 

Comments/Concerns (about the Read-a-Thon and/or your book selections): This was my second read-a-thon ever, and I had done extremely poorly on my first one, so when I signed up for this one, I tried to be as prepared as possible. Last time I didn't choose my books before hand, and ended up spending an insane amount of time trying to pick what I'd read next. This time, I made my TBR pile for the #OUreadathon and vowed that I'd only read any other title if/when I get done with the books I'd already picked. The other strategy that really worked for me was to read as much as possible at night. During the day I keep getting interrupted by family, for errands, housework, conversations, etc - so night time is the prime time for me to get ahead of my goals, and this strategy worked out really well, for the most part. The tactic that I didn't really employ, which I wish I had, was to choose shorter books - these allow for you to flit from different subject to different subject, keeping everything sort of fresh. I mostly chose my books based on how fast-paced I'd thought they'd be - or "mysteries" so that I'd remain glued to the book in pursuit of what would happen next. This also worked in my favor; further proof of this was, when I picked up the historical fiction novel "Protect the Heart", although it was a pretty good book, it took me longer than it would normally take for me to read 198 pages, because the pace in the book was far slower than the pace in the ones before it. Anyhow, OVERALL, it was a delightful experience, and I absolutely LOVED IT! A very big THANK YOU to all the people who helped arrange this read-a-thon, hosted mini-challenges, etc. You all know who you are...and you all deserve a big *squishy* hug! :)

Books I'd Planned To Read:

• Iron House by John Hart (432 pg.)
• The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (273 pg.)
• The Human Race by O.C. Heaton (448 pg.)
• The Mistress's Revenge by Tamar Cohen (224 pg.)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pg.)
• Protect the Heart by LK Hunsaker (198 pg.)
• What You See in the Dark by Manuel Muñoz (272 pg.)
• Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (eq. of 385 pg.) - Audiobook

In Conclusion:  If you're on Twitter, make sure to add me and say hello! Maybe we can discuss some of the books we read during the #OUreadathon . Also, AGAIN, I want to THANK all the people involved with the Read-a-Thon, and all the people who participated. Special hugs & love to all those who visited my blog/updates and commented - you make my blogging-world go round!

~Once Upon a Read-a-Thon - Update#4~

 

"Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th.

Book I'm Currently Reading: "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

  

# of Pages Read (of book currently reading): 413 pages (out of 487 pages)

  

Total # Pages Read:  1,358 pages

Total # of Books Read (completed during Read-a-Thon): 3

Names of Books Completed: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton, "The Mistress's Revenge" bt Tamar Cohen and "The Peach Keeper" by Sarah Addison Allen. (for pictures/book-covers check out the Update#3).

Comments/Concerns (about the book currently reading): When I made my last update, I'd stated that I was a little underwhelmed by the action in the book, and that although I liked the writing, it hadn't "gripped" me yet. Boy, was I wrong. Moving just a little forward, the action hit me LIKE A TON OF BRICKS - and I'm not even complaining. This book totally sucked me in! I know a book is worth it, when every bone in my body is aching (yesterday was a super-busy day), and my eyes are heavy with sleep, yet all I keep doing is telling myself, "just one more page...just one more!" LOL :P

Book I Plan To Read Next: "What You See In The Dark" by Manuel Muñoz.(Although, since it's the last day, I really want to challenge myself to pick up "Iron House" by John Hart and try to finsih it!).

Mini Challenge#1

Ok, well, the challenge is to play MATCHMAKER to characters that would otherwise not land together in a romantic tryst. I'm terrible at matchmaking (which is why I'm single, see!? LoL) but the following characters that I have picked, I think would work really well with each other. So, I'm pairing together:

Peter Pevensie (or High King, Peter the Magnificent) of The Chronicles of Narnia series  

 

❤  

 

Luna Lovegood of The Harry Potter series.

Why? : Well, Luna and Peter are, inadvertently, the same person. Inherently good, always looking out for their loved ones, always trying to do the right thing, and unfazed by the world to change who and how they are. Peter is good at making decisions, and Luna is excellent at sticking to her decisions. Plus, with Luna's beautiful eyes, and Peter's unruly crop of hair...can you imagine the offspring of this couple? lol =P I think they'd make an excellent couple, don't you? 

A big thank you to Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books for hosting this amazing Mini-Challenge. Make sure to check it out here. 

Mini-Challenge#2

Book Recommendations:

1) Any Book of Choice: Have you ever picked up a book completely unaware as to how it is going to be instrumental in changing your life, and then being truly and inexplicably bamboozled and overwhelmed by it's beauty? "19 Minutes" by Jodi Picoult was just such a book, for me. If you're looking for a contemporary read that incorporates real life, family drama, pivotal social issues, mystery, crime and even courtroom drama into one absolutely heartrending and gut-wrenching novel, "19 Minutes" is the book to pick up. Mind you, Jodi Picoult does not sugar-coat the subjects that she writes about, and as it is, the subjects she chooses are heavy-hitting ones - so this is not a book for you, if you're looking for a light, summery read. However, if you want to read a book on an important social issue such as teen-hazing, bullying, and teenage frustrations and the consequences of such actions, presented in an unbiased, multi-perspective and multi-faceted manner, then I highly doubt you'll find a better book than "19 Minutes" by Jodi Picoult out there. Full of rich characters, both beautiful and flawed, and a storyline that will break your heart and mend it, leaving you full of wonder and amazement, but ultimately this book is sure to change your life.

2) Favorite Book from Read-a-Thon Pile: You have definitely heard about this book before if you're a book lover. You've heard book-lovers gush about it's awesomeness, you've seen bloggers write reviews full of praises for it, and you've heard critics are duped to find fault with it. And believe me when I say, all of that hype, was not for nothing. "Divergent" by Veronica Roth is the kind of book that absolutely transports you from reality into a dystopian world full of action and drama. In this dark, and stark, time the society has been divided into five factions. Each faction is dedicated to the cultivation and edification of a certain virtue; Abnegation are the selfless ones, Candor value honesty above all, Erudite spend their life in the pursuit of knowledge and intelligence, Amity are dedicated to perpetuating peace and the Dauntless are the brave ones. When you reach a certain age, you take a test that tells you which faction your nature is best suited for. For Beatrice, this choice is harder than others, because she is a "divergent", someone who fits into more than one group - but this secret can be life-threatening for Beatrice. But Beatrice makes her choice; a choice that surprises everyone and changes her entire life. What follows next, is an action-packed, thrilling-ride that keeps the reader wanting more.

A big thank you to Ashley from Bleh to Basically Amazing Books for hosting this amazing Mini-Challenge. Make sure to check it out here. 

~Once Upon a Read-a-Thon - Update #3~

 "Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th.

Book I'm Currently Reading: "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

  

# of Pages Read (of book currently reading): 59 pages (out of 487 pages)

  

Total # Pages Read:  1004 pages

Total # of Books Read (completed during Read-a-Thon): 3

Names of Books Completed: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton, "The Mistress's Revenge" bt Tamar Cohen and "The Peach Keeper" by Sarah Addison Allen.

Comments/Concerns (about the book currently reading): I had planned on reading "What You See In The Dark" by Manuel Muñoz next, however, "Divergent" kept calling to me from amidst the pile of books I'd planned. I just couldn't help but pick it up. In all honesty, it hasn't totally "gripped" me yet...but that's only because I'm about 60 pages in. It seems to be in an intriguing concept, and I suppose all the "action" is yet to arrive in the book; I am really looking forward to it! :)

Book I Plan To Read Next: "What You See In The Dark" by Manuel Muñoz.

Mini Challenge#1

Love Triangles

1) Edward Cullen vs. Jacob Black from the Twilight Series

2) Bill Compton vs. Eric Northman from the Southern Vampire (Sookie Stackhouse) Series

3) Linden vs. Gabriel from The Chemical Garden Trilogy

A big thank you to Sabrina from YA Bliss for hosting this amazing Mini-Challenge. Make sure to check it out here. 

Mini-Challenge#2

Synopsis (Fake): 

 

"The pace of evolution is murder..." in The Human Race. All those notions that we had about the planet and the universe have all been wrong; Mother Earth is, in fact, Daddy Earth and he's NOT a happy camper. He has slowly begun to devour the world, and has threatened extinction of the human race until they do as Daddy Earth desires. Money is no longer the currency of the world, leaves are. If you have maple leaves, good...if you have redwood leaves, even better. Animals are no longer fit for consumption and have all been marked with a virus that results in the growing of horns on the head of anyone who consumes their flesh. Cars are banned, and even the mention of an airplane results in an earthquake! 

 

Humans are absolutely mortified at the difficulties that they're facing, and cannot fathom why Daddy Earth is being so callous towards the human race. Until one of their political leaders, Captain Prince Sir Hump-A-Lot comes across the secret that Daddy Earth's beloved wife Gaia has threatened to leave him for not having run a tight-ship, for allowing Earth to come to disarray and harm her beauty, and for generally being a sloth. When humans come to find this, they suddenly realize that they've not only brought this upon themselves but have committed a grave injustice in the process. Can they redeem themselves, beautify the Earth, change slovenly and slothful Daddy Earth and please Gaia so that her love can become the emollient for Daddy Earth's wrath? You must read...to find out! 

 

A big thank you to Casey of The Bookish Type for hosting this amazing Mini-Challenge. Make sure to check it out here.

~Once Upon a Read-a-Thon - Update #2~

  "Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th.

Book I'm Currently Reading: "The Peach Keeper" by Sarah Addison Allen

  

# of Pages Read (of book currently reading): 193 pages (out of 273 pages)

  

Total # Pages Read: 865 pages

Total # of Books Read (completed during Read-a-Thon): 2 

Names of Books Completed: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton and "The Mistress's Revenge" bt Tamar Cohen.

Comments/Concerns (about "The Mistress's Revenge"): "The Mistress's Revenge" seemed like a book I wouldn't enjoy much, given that I rarely read about jealous lovers and romance and such. But surprisingly, I'm liking this book so far. I find the cover absolutely intriguing. One cannot help but be engrossed in it, there's something about it. You can check out "The Mistress's Revenge" by Tamar Cohen on Goodreads in case you'd like to pick it up.

Comments/Concerns (about the book currently reading): I didn't realize that magical realism (think: The Time Traveler's Wife or The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake) were a theme in Sarah Addison Allen's "The Peach Keeper" but apparently such is the case. The book is well written, and the characterization is slow and methodical, like getting to know real people. There's a certain mysterious charm that keeps you invested in  finding out more about the history of the town of Walls of Water, and it's people. I'm definitely intrigued, and like it so

Book I Plan To Read Next: "What You See In The Dark" by Manuel Muñoz.

Mini-Challenge

Mini Challenge Question 1: What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?

Answer:  Although all types of Mythology, be it Roman, Greek or Egyptian, is absolutely fascinating to read about, for me, Greek Mythology is absolutely enchanting. Especially given that there are so many character in Greek Mythology, each with it's unique set of traits and characteristics, and many of them intertwine to create a beautiful picture of power, romance, war and life. My love for Greek Mythology solidified as a sophomore in high school when I researched an argumentative essay about how women have been deemed inferior throughout history, incorporating the mythological stories of Persephone, Pandora and Psyche into my argument. Needless to say, I've loved Greek Mythology since.

Mini Challenge Question 2: What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?

Answer: I love "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer, but as for contemporary fiction, I absolutely fell in love with "Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1)" by Josephine Angelini (click on the title for review). As I state in my review, "Also, this book includes a lot of info on Greek Mythology, but author Josephine Angelini has done the subject justice, and the myths and legends are seamlessly incorporated into the storyline." She provided enough pertinent details about the myth and the story behind the characters so as to not overwhelm or bore the reader, but was informative and provided a sturdy and sound foundation for each particular character inspired by a Greek God/myth. I cannot wait to read the next installment in this fast paced and riveting trilogy/saga.

A big thank you to Bailey of IB Book Blogging for hosting this amazing Mini-Challenge. Make sure to check it out here.

~Once Upon A Read-a-Thon - Update#1~

 

 "Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th.

 

Book I'm Currently Reading: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton 

  

# of Pages Read (of book currently reading): 387 pages (out of 448 pages)

  

Total # Pages Read: 387 pages 

Total # of Books Read (completed during Read-a-Thon): 0

Comments/Concerns (about the book currently reading): The Human Race by O.C. Heaton is a pretty interesting book - it gripped me from the get-go, allowing me to really immerse myself into the story. I began reading it at night, and it kept me awake despite my sleepiness because I wanted to know "what next?".  You can click on the picture above, and it will take you to the Goodreads page for "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton.

Book I Plan To Read Next: "The Mistress's Revenge" by Tamar Cohen

~Once Upon A Readathon - Starting Line~

 

"Once Upon a Read-a-Thon" is hosted by Angela at Reading Angel, Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 11 to 11:59 PM on July 13th.

Books I Plan To Read:

• Iron House by John Hart (432 pg.)
• The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (273 pg.)
• The Human Race by O.C. Heaton (448 pg.)
• The Mistress's Revenge by Tamar Cohen (224 pg.)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pg.)
• Protect the Heart by LK Hunsaker (198 pg.)
• What You See in the Dark by Manuel Muñoz (272 pg.)

Also, on audiobook, I'm reading:

• Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (eq. of 385 pg.) - click on the picture below for the link to the audiobook on Audible.

# of Pages I Plan To Read: 2719 pages. I know that's a very high number, and I can't promise that I'll actually finish reading all those pages, but I sure am gonna try! =)


Book I'm Starting With: "The Human Race" by O.C. Heaton.


Book I Plan On Reading Next: "The Mistress's Revenge" by Tamar Cohen.


Comments and Concerns: My biggest concern is that I won't be able to get a lot of reading done, because I'll have to run errands with my mom & dad. But I'm going to get on the reading wagon late night/early morning, to try and cover as much ground as I possibly can.


In Conclusion:  If you're on Twitter, make sure to add me and say hello! Use the hashtag #OUreadathon to check out what the other participants are up to, what books they're reading, and what they're talking about. HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!!

~Sunday Stew - June 19th, 2011~

Sunday Stew is a Weekly Meme hosted Here at Books Devoured

First of all, I want to wish all of you, fathers, mothers, daughters and sons alike...a very HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! :)

Bookmark of the Week

This week, I've been using the "Sweet Venom" by Tera Lynn Child's bookmark, that I received courtesy of Yara from Once Upon A Twilight (THANK YOU!). I just found out that Loretta of Between the Pages has been using the same bookmark this week as well, and I thought that was so cool! :) There's something very simple but alluring about this bookmark - it completely draws you to itself. I especially love the braid and it's mysteriously curling ends, set against the contrasting pale skin, it's simply beautiful, and I love it! :)

Around The Web:

 

 

 

 

Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, and Candace's Book Blog are at it AGAIN!  A while ago, they'd brought us a Spring-time Blog Hop, and this time, it's a Read-a-Thon. I just recently completed my first read-a-thon, and I'm ready to get on the horse again! :) I'm signing up, for sure...what are YOU waiting for? Click on the banner above, and go sign up NOW! I can assure you that it's going to be SUPER fun! :)

 

 

 Around Me: 

 

 

It's Father's Day, and as some of you may know, it was also my Dad's birthday yesterday! So this weekend is super special in our home, and of course, super busy!  My mom and I take special care to fuss a little extra on my dad, because in all honesty, he's the kind of guy who never requires any fuss throughout the year. My dad's one of the most easiest-going, laid-back, cool-operators kinda dudes in the world...and he almost NEVER spends anything on himself, and I can't remember the last time he made a request for anything special and what not. His focus has always been us...and he's always telling my mom and I that we should go get ourselves something, and if you ever ask him if he wants something, his answer is always something along the lines of, "I have everything, what more do I need?" My dad's been my anchor, my best friend, my confidante. In some ways, even more than my mom...but I guess only because as a teenager, I thought tormenting my mother was part of some rite of passage, and I simply did it to irk the crap out of her, so our bonding really began after I returned home from college. My dad has always been my best friend since I was a child. I made this card up there for him last week, while I worked with some kindergartners - I did buy him a card as well, but he seemed far more attached to this one, and I know why...he's always loved my creative side; he says I got his creative genes from him (I must have only gotten half a set or something, coz I'm really NOT that creative! LOL). Anyhow, I'm an only child, and a complete Daddy's Girl (subsequently, mommy's boy too, in some ways! lol :P)...so I dedicated my "About Me" section to my dad today! 

 

Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this week's ~Sunday Stew~, I definitely enjoyed writing it. With this, I conclude this week's Sunday Stew post! Thank you for reading, feel free to leave me any comments/feedback you may like. I wish you a blessed rest of the week, and that you'll continue to visit! :)

 

~Spring Into Summer - FINAL UPDATE~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 3
• Total Pages Read: 1070 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: .75 Book (LOL)
• Pages Read since last update: 231 Pages
• Total time read: 13 Hours (but not in their entirety).
• How I'm currently feeling: Feeling pretty good. Still sick, but glad I participated in the Read-a-Thon. Realized how much work it is! lol :P
• Books read: Finished "The Sweetness of Tears" by Nafisa Haji, by reading the remaining 231 pages, at the end. Began with "The Midwife's Confession" by Diane Chamberlain, and "Very Bad Men" by Harry Dolan.
  
  

What is your favorite book you read during the read-a-thon?

• Hmmm, this is a difficult question, since all three books belonged to three different genres, and were three totally different experiences. I honestly couldn't choose, all three were pretty fantastic! :)

Did you participate in any mini-challenges? Which ones?

• Yes, I participated in pretty much all the challenges, except the one illustrated in update 10, but that's because I was on the road, driving, during those hours! *shrugs*

Which mini-challenge was your favorite?

• Hmmm, I really liked the Book Titles Make A Sentence one, and the Which Book Do You Think You'd Want Students to Read and Why challenge. I love writing, so the ones involving writing were great, but the other ones demanded creativity, and I liked that too.

What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon?

• Well, in all honesty, that I strove hard to get some reading done. Not that telling anyone around me that I was participating in a "virtual read-a-thon" would have gotten me any leeway, but mentally, I pushed hard, so that was good.

Are you satisfied with how much reading you got done? Did you do more than you expected? Less?

• The first day was disappointing for me. But it was a weekday, and there were "real life" issues (gag!) that needed my attention. Then today, it was my Dad's birthday, so I didn't really get a chance to read as much. In all honesty, I think I read a decent amount - I just had imagined that being in the read-a-thon would allow me uninterrupted time to read. *Smacks forehead* Silly me, I forgot...I'm not that lucky! lol :P But I'm happy with however much I read...I read, and that's all that matters to me! :)

What did you think of the updates? Too close together? Didn't like the time limit?

• I think the updates were a great idea, but setting them so close together really did make them far less enjoyable (sorry!). I think the IDEA of it is absolutely perfect, but I think the updates should go in a different post, and the mini-challenges ought to be in different posts.

If you could change one thing about the read-a-thon, what would it be?

• If I had to re-do this, and do it my way, I guess I would keep everything the same (so you did a GREAT job at organizing Enna!), but I'd just make the requirement TWO update posts made anytime during the day (following a certain format provided at the beginning of the read-a-thon), and mini-challenges posted every four hours, which the participants can choose to participate in, or not. I think the mini-challenges should have a time-limit, but the updates should not - because I certainly don't want to be obligated to break from reading to make a post, and I don't want to be dishonest, and just schedule a fake one, either, you know? Other than that, it was perfect - REALLY creative with the challenges! :)

Would you participate in another read-a-thon hosted by Squeaky Books? Why or why not? (Again, I won't cry if you say "no")

• Yeah, sure. Why not!?!? This was my first read-a-thon, so I don't know if they are done differently on other blogs/sites, but I really enjoyed myself, and I'd participate again, for sure! :)

Any last comments on the read-a-thon?

• First of all, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Enna of Squeaky Books for hosting this Read-a-Thon, and also, thank you to all the participants who engaged in this read-a-thon with me. Also, a SPECIAL Thank You to all those who visited my blog, and left their comments, their concerns, and showed their support - I love you all. A big WELCOME to all the people who subscribed to my blog, and HAPPY READING to all :)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #11~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 2
• Total Pages Read:  829 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 301 Pages
• Total time read: Ummm...I've lost track of time? lol :P
• How I'm currently feeling: Okay, so I left home, and that allowed me to be able to spend some time with my book, and allowed me to get a decent amount of studying done. I did, however, miss Update #10, for which I'm extremely sorry.
  

Mini Challenge:

If you could live in the world of one book, which would it be and why?

I know I should probably be naming yet another action/fantasy/thriller. But in all honesty, if I could, I'd be living in the Regency Period, in the times and life of Jane Austen and her characters, especially the characters of Pride & Prejudice. My second choice would have to be the Shakespearean or Elizabethan era. I believe those times of the past may have been dangerous, and difficult, and a cauldron of communicable diseases, but it was also a colorful, lively and a more robust era - not one where the entirety of life would be spent just trying to rush to the next place, prepare yourself for the next task at hand, strive for that next promotion, etc. It may have been a complicated time, but the needs and expectation of men (and women) were simpler. Now, nothing is simple! :(

~Spring Into Summer - Update #9~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 0 Pages
• Total time read: 4.5 hours
• Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
• How I'm currently feeling: I knew that I wouldn't be able to do much once my dad wakes up. He woke up and we surprised him with his presents, and birthday cards. Also, I made him his favorite breakfast, and we all sat and ate together. Then we sat down to watch some TV together - so I haven't gotten ANY reading done since the last update :(
  

Mini Challenge:


So, I used this really cool website CLICK HERE to create an anagram out of my name, and here is the (HILARIOUS) result! =)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #8~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 0 Pages
• Total time read: 4.5 hours
• Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
• How I'm currently feeling: I knew that I wouldn't be able to do much once my dad wakes up. He woke up and we surprised him with his presents, and birthday cards. Also, I made him his favorite breakfast, and we all sat and ate together. Then we sat down to watch some TV together - so I haven't gotten ANY reading done since the last update :(

Mini Challenge:

If you had bookshelves FULL of all of your favorite books, how would you organize them?

If I had a bookshelf chock FULL of my favorite books, I would organize them first, by genre. And then, on a secondary level, the books now sorted by genre would then be sorted by author's last name. And on the tertiary level, say if there are six books in a series, or six books by one author, they'd be organized in chronological order, according to the flow of the story (even if the prequel came later!). Chronology is very important to me! :)

Since we're on the subject of bookshelves, I just wanted to share with you guys, my dream bookshelf/library *le sigh*

Admont Benedictine Monastery-Library

Isn't it absolutely beautiful, and doesn't it look just like the library from "Beauty & the Beast"? 

But yeah, DREAM ON, right!?!? For that, I'd first have to buy a huge mansion. But, I guess I could compromise for something simple like this...

Look at that oak paneling, and the warmth of that corner. I mean, that would be the favorite part of MY house! I wish!!! *le sigh* Haha, okay, okay...I'll stop...coz I could continue dreaming...HAPPY READING! :)

~Spring Into Summer - Update #7~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 528 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 0
• Pages Read since last update: 115 Pages
• Total time read: 2.5 hours
• What I'm currently reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
• How I'm currently feeling: Mom & Dad are sleeping, and I have some quiet time before Dad wakes up, and we wish him a Happy Birthday, and create a big fuss over him! =) I know I'll get sidetracked then, because I am a total Daddy's Girl/Daddy's Little Princess being an only-child, so for now I'm just clamoring to get as much reading out of the way as I possibly can!

Mini Challenge:

Name one book you think should be taught in school, grade of your choice.

19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult 

You can read my Goodreads review of 19 Minutes , but I am presenting this book to you, not as a reviewer or a blogger. As a matter of fact, I think this has become about more than just the mini-challenge, at this point. I am choosing this book because I find it to be so important, and it is so very close to my heart. I think that 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult is the kind of book that must be MANDATORY reading for high school level students. As a matter of fact, I believe that it should be the first book that 9th graders, or all Freshman should read as soon as they return from their summer vacations to start high school. On the surface it merely seems like a sad story about a high school shooting, but beneath the surface, this book explores the entire inter-personal mechanism of a student population, and the dynamics of personal relationships, such as friendship, mother-child relationships, romantic relationships etc.

I know you are wondering to yourself, "But why? What is so important about this book?" Speaking not merely about the harmful effects of bullying, but of the perils of coming of age and the rifts it creates, this book was truly an insight into the young and fragile psyche of teenagers today. The constantly changing and evolving canvas of the teenage life is chronicled in such a subtle, yet effective manner, that I felt akin to every character in this book, regardless of his/her age. Also, it presents the perspectives of both the victim, and the victimized - and never judges you for the opinion you hold. What I love best about the writing of Jodi Picoult is that she never presents a one-dimensional argument - she allows for their to be love and acceptance for all characters, even if they are at odds with each other, or are standing on two different sides of a line. 

I think reading this book would help teenagers realize what kind of power their words, and their actions, hold - how the warp of merely 19 Minutes can totally tilt the axis of their world, all because they couldn't show respect, tolerance or acceptance to one person. I believe not only would this book be educational, it would be a meaningful way for teachers and students to bond, as well as for a way for students to make more meaningful connections, and engage in open discussion and dialogue regardless of their clique, their race, their age, etc. I know, for a FACT, that my children would most definitely be advised to read this book, when they reach the appropriate age - I would definitely want to teach them acceptance, tolerance, pride in oneself, the importance of communication, and the detrimental affects of bullying. I believe young adults AND adults, alike, ought to read this book.

~Spring Into Summer - Update #6~

Update:

• Total Books Read: 1
• Total Pages Read: 413 Pages
• Books Read Since Last Update: 1
• Pages Read since last update: 112
• Total time read: 1 hour.
• Currently Reading: "Very Bad Men " by Harry Dolan
• How I'm currently feeling: I finished "The Midwife's Confession" last night, and just began "Very Bad Men" - more hopeful about getting more reading done today! :)
  
  

Mini Challenge:

Put two characters from different series together (romantically or otherwise) and describe why they would be good together.

I know this just sounds silly, but I think it would totally rock if Eric Northman of "The Sookie Stackhouse" novels mated with Rosalie Hale of the "Twilight" saga. I mean, can you IMAGINE the babies they'd make. They'd be the new "Brangelina" of our times - but like, ten times paler, more beautiful and more deadly! ;)

~Spring Into Summer Read-a-Thon - Update Day #1~

Okay, so Day #1 is coming to an end - I mean, sure I have more time to read, but it's time to update, and let the world know how far I've gotten this day (trust me, not very far!). So, without further ado, here's my update:

1. First of all, give us an end-of-day status update.
   Answer:  I read "The Midwife's Confession" by Diane Chamberlain, which is an extremely interesting book. I've read about 315 pages so far, and it is coming to a close, and I'm excited to pick up my next book. I'm struggling to keep up with the posting, which sucks - but it's my first read-a-thon, and I suspect I'll learn! :) Also, I've been sick all day...and my fever is not really relenting, so I don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake. Also, it's my dad's birthday tomorrow, so I am sure I won't be reading very much tomorrow either - so I can kiss that coveted grand prize goodbye, but that's okay...I'm just happy to be participating. This is fun! =)
   
   
   
2. What is the favorite thing you have read today?
   Answer: "The Midwife's Confession" is all that I have read today, but in all honesty, I absolutely absolutely am loving it. So I guess that would be it!
   
   
   
3. Which mini-challenge was your favorite?
   Answer: I think the last mini-challenge with the book titles making a sentence was the most fun for me. Although I really enjoyed the one that prompted me to write - but then again, writing is my passion. This challenge was the most different one for me.
   
   
   
4. What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon?
   Answer: Just reading along with people; knowing that there are other readers/bloggers out there participating in the challenges, and striving to read alongside me! Also, the mini-challenges have been fun too.
   
   
   
5. What has been your LEAST favorite thing about the read-a-thon?
   Answer: I like everything about the read-a-thon, but if I really must complain and whine, the only thing I wished for, was a little more time for the challenges. Actually, I suppose the time was enough, but given there are so many different things that needed to be done - I would sometimes check the mini-challenge post late, and thus be scrambling to create my post for the mini-challenge. And it's not like you can schedule the posts either, because you don't know what the mini-challenge is before hand. But then again, I guess that is why they are called "Challenges" lol =P
   
   
   
6. Are you on track to meet your goals?
   Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Haha, I thought I'd be reading so much faster and so much more. But that's okay. It's not a marathon. I always tend to enjoy my books. In fact, the longer I linger on a book, chances are, the more I like it. I usually spend more time with a book BECAUSE I like it very much! =)
   
   
   
7. Will you be participating tomorrow? Do you have any new goals?Answer: My goal for tomorrow is to NOT have a fever, lol =P This is so that I don't feel sluggish, and sleepy. That totally interferes with my reading. Also, since it's ACTUALLY the weekend, and I don't have to work, I guess the goal is to check the mini challenges on TIME! =)
   
   

~Spring Into Summer - Update #5~

 Update:

• Total Books Read: 0
• Total Pages Read: 301 Pages
  
• Book I'm Currently Reading: "The Midwife's Confession" by Diane Chamberlain.
• Books Read Since Last Update: N/A
• Pages Read since last update: 141 Pages
  
• Total time read: 7 hours
  
• How I'm currently feeling: Only 301 Pages in 7 Hours. Needless to say, I am feeling incredibly annoyed! :(
  
  
  Mini Challenge:
  
  Okay, so I needed to create a sentence using only book titles, and needed at least 3 books! This was HARD...but it's funny because the more I began searching, the more I got into this challenge. Here are some of the sentences I came up with - let me know if you like them! =)

The Midwife's Confession Scars Tabloid City

 The Mockingbirds Abandon A Young Wife

 The Murderer's Daughters Abandon 22 Brittania Road

Sins of the House of Borgia Wither The Forest of Hands and Teeth