Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Finish Line

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: 2.5
Total number of books I’ve read: 7.5

Pages Read Today: 472
Total Pages Read: 1962

Hours Read Today: 3 hour 33 minutes
Total Hours Read:  15 hours 15 minutes

Today #insixwords: Crazy Jack and Feisty Alexia = Fun!

Mini Challenges: None Today

I'm very happy with my showing for this Bout of Books Readathon.  I knew I wouldn't be able to accomplish as much as last time (full time job), but I think 7 1/2 books and over 1900 pages is quite a respectable accomplishment.  Plus I had fun with a few mini challenges.  And finally, I knocked out two of my 2011 Reading Challenges.  At this rate, I just might reach my reading challenge goals this year.  My one failing this time was the Net Galley book.  I just didn't get around to it.  I still have a fondness for physical books that the iPad just can't shake.  One of these days I will just have to take the iPad to work.  Then I would be forced to use it...  possibility.  Overall, I enjoyed this readathon for the second time and look forward to the next one!

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (7.5 done) √
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (7 done) √
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (3 done) √
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!  Vampire Challenge completed! √
• Read at least 2 hours a day (averaged 2.18 hours a day) √

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger (in progress)
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Big Book of War
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Jack of Fables: The Big Book of War

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 6: The Big Book of War

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

The Siege of the Golden Boughs occurs in which Bookburner's army attacks Revise's compound. Jack returns not as a prisoner but as its Commander in chief. A further explanation of the Literals, and their extended family of characters who symbolize literary notions is explored. Secrets and setups are revealed such as the relationships between Jack and the Page sisters.

Back to Jack's big story involving Golden Boughs and the Bookburner.  I loved this volume.  It had it all: action, romance, drama, cliffhangers, comedy.  We finally learn about the connection between the Bookburner and Revise and all the Literals.  I love how they've expanded the world beyond the Fables.  We are getting to see how all the worlds are connected and in fact rely on one another to survive. That's something that the Bookburner fails to grasp.  if he succeeds in destroying all the Fables, what does he then do?  He would have no purpose, no goal.  He would cease to exist.  Interesting concept...  I am continually amazed by how well written this series and the parent series, Fables, are.  I love them to pieces.

Jack of Fables:

1. The (Nearly) Great Escape
2. Jack of Hearts
3. The Bad Prince
4. Americana
5. Turning Pages
6. The Big Book of War
7. The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
8. The Fulminate Blade
9. The End

Jack of Fables: Turning Pages

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 5: Turning Pages

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating:  4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

Get ready for Jack's adventures out West, as Smiling Jack Candle crosses paths with a grim sheriff from back East who carries no gun. Collecting issues #22-27 of the series Publishers Weekly says "any sophisticated comics fan will enjoy."

Jack in the Wild West!  Very entertaining.  I liked the story.  However, I think the better story was when we moved back to present day with the Page Sisters, Mr. Revise, and the Bookburner.  The story's getting so complicated and twisted...  just the way I like it.  I loved seeing the different personalities of the Page Sisters as not just women for Jack to shag but women with their own agendas.  It certainly clarified a few things for me.  And we get to see more of the interaction of Kevin Thorne and Priscilla Page. I wonder what's going to happen next?  Oh yeah, and we see what Jack's about to get himself into by returning to Golden Boughs.  Interesting, interesting.

Jack of Fables:

1. The (Nearly) Great Escape
2. Jack of Hearts
3. The Bad Prince
4. Americana
5. Turning Pages
6. The Big Book of War
7. The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
8. The Fulminate Blade
9. The End

Day Zero Project: Week 5-6 Update

Instead of daily posts, I thought it would be a lot easier for me and you if I did weekly update posts.  These will track my progress each week.  I will highlight what I’ve done, what I want to do, and any interesting tidbits.  Sometimes I’ll add pictures and/or links.  Hopefully these posts will keep me accountable to me list…

What I Did

22. Keep a journal for this project — Obviously an ongoing goal. I got a beautiful black soft cover journal to use.  I am determined to journal at least a bit each day.

19. Blog 1001 times —  27 posts for the last two weeks (84/1001)

32. Read my height in books — This week’s height:  8.5 in   (19.5/68 in.)

31. Finish 30 reading challenges  (4/30)

• Page to Screen Challenge finished
• Vampire Reading Challenge finished

6. See all of IMDB's Top 250 movies (4/250)

• 39. Citizen Kane -- Wonderfully amazing movie.  Forget the acting, the set design gets me every time.  I love how Welles frames shots.  My favorite effect is when Susan leaves Kane and walks through the door of her bedroom out through the hallway and to the outer door.  It's one long hallway.  And then later we get to see the same shot from the opposite end.  Gorgeous!

What I Plan to Do Next Week

More of the same.  Plus I want to start on my homemade Christmas cards and inspiration quotes. (reposted -- I never got around to this last week, so I'm going to try again.)

Monthly Goal

Tuesday starts a new month and with it comes my first big monthly challenge.  I'm starting these off with the hardest one: 20. Complete NaNoWriMo.  I'm going to try.  I might fail miserably one this one, but I'm really going to try!  Wish me luck!

Overall Progress

3 / 101

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Title: Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Orbit 2010

Genre: Steampunk

Pages: 386

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk

How I Got It: I own it!

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Another great book to add to the series.  I love feisty Alexia, stubborn Conall, and the frivolous Miss Ivy.  Carriger's characters are her strength.  Sure the story is fun.  The mystery is intriguing.  The action is fast-paced.  Yet, through all this it's the characters that keep me reading.  It's the characters that keep me wanting for more.  She has the ability to develop well-rounded characters that are each three-dimensional and complicated.  Even the side characters are interesting.  I loved Tunstell.  Felicity keep Alexia on her witty toes.  Conall's great great great granddaughter embodies the famous Scottish charm.  All of the Kingair pack are components in the plan.  Madame Lefoux is a welcome addition, a mysterious and fashionable addition.  My only wish was for more Professor Lyall.  Hopefully next book.

Alexia Tarabotti

• #1 Soulless
• #2 Changeless
• #3 Blameless
• #4 Heartless
• #5 Timeless

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #6

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: .25
Total number of books I’ve read: 5

Pages Read Today: 113
Total Pages Read: 1490

Hours Read Today: 1 hour 3 minutes
Total Hours Read:  11 hours 42 minutes

Today #insixwords: Can't wait to read Blameless!

Mini Challenges: None today

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (5 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (5 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (3 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!  Vampire Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages (up next)
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #5

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: .5
Total number of books I’ve read: 4.75

Pages Read Today: 179
Total Pages Read: 1377

Hours Read Today: 2 hour
Total Hours Read:  10 hours 39 minutes

Today #insixwords: Alexia is my steampunk hero! (still)

Mini Challenges: None today

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (4 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (4 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (2 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!  Vampire Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger (in progress)
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #4

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: .25
Total number of books I’ve read: 4.25

Pages Read Today: 92
Total Pages Read: 1198

Hours Read Today:  1 hour 3 minutes
Total Hours Read:  8 hours 39 minutes

Today #insixwords: Alexia Tarbotti is my steampunk hero!

Mini Challenges: Cover Challenge from Let's Evaluate.  Took me a bit, but I got eventually got all of them.

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (4 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (4 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (2 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!  Vampire Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger (in progress)
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith

Title: Night World Vol. 2 (Dark Angel, The Chosen, Soulmate)

Author: L.J. Smith

Publisher: Simon Pulse 2008

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 688

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires

How I Got It: I own it!

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.

Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, Rashel struggles to avenge her mother's death in The Chosen. Then she meets Quinn, her soulmate, who is part of the world she has vowed to destroy.

Hannah receives notes warning her of incredible danger in Soulmate. But if death is her destiny, is the Lord of the Night World's love strong enough to save her?

I have a confession to make: I didn't actually finish this book.  I read the first two stories, but then I got upset and stopped reading the book.  Let's discuss the first two stories and then I will get the issue that stopped me reading.

Dark Angel -- I liked how this story started.  I liked Gillian and her radical change.  I also liked Angel.  His character was very interesting.  You start thinking he's the best thing that's ever happened to Gillian.  But then little things started happening.  And you start thinking that there's something wrong with this whole story.  I liked the story.  And then we find out that Gillian's soulmate is David and the ending felt way too formulaic and a cop-out.  On to the next story...

The Chosen -- Right away, this story struck me as wrong.  The beginning flashback of how Rashel became Rashel the vampire hunter was so clichéd.  I knew that the vampire that killed her mother would come back and guess what... he did.  Of course.  And then she met Quinn and of course they're soulmates.  It just seemed so clichéd.  I finished the story, but that was it.

So my problem with the Night World stories... soulmates.  In the first volume, we are told that people finding their soulmates is incredibly weird.  Very rarely do people find each other.  And yet, in every story in the volumes, characters find their soulmate. And the soulmate is always from the wrong world.  One human, one Night World.  Therefore, I am done with this series.  I can't keep the formula going.  So I'm done and moving on to something else.

Night World

1. Volume 1: Secret Vampire/Daughters of Darkness/Spellbinder
2. Volume 2: Dark Angel/Chosen/Soulmate
3. Volume 3: Huntress/Black Dawn/Witchlight

Vampire Challenge Finished!

I started out strong at this reading challenge and then I hit a delay.  Finally, I got back into the challenge and finished it out.  I think this is one that I will be repeating next year.  Maybe not 20 books, but more than 10.  Overall I read some so-so books for this challenge.  I really need to dig up some great vampire novels for next year.

1. A Girl’s Guide to Vampires — Katie MacAlister (1/11/11)
2. Bloodsucking Fiends — Christopher Moore (1/19/11)
3. You Suck — Christopher Moore (1/20/11)
4. Bite Me — Christopher Moore (1/24/11)
5. Bespelling Jane — Mary Balogh (2/1/11)
6. “Unleashed” from Cupid Cats – Katie MacAlister (2/16/11)
7. Twilight: The Graphic Novel – Stephenie Meyer (2/28/11)
8. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner – Stephenie Meyer (2/28/11)
9. Sex and the Single Vampire – Katie MacAlister (3/7/11)
10. Blue Bloods – Melissa de la Cruz (3/11/11)
11. Masquerade (Blue Bloods novel) Melissa de la Cruz (3/13/11)
12. Revelations (Blue Bloods novel) – Melissa de la Cruz (3/14/11)
13. The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods novel) – Melissa de la Cruz (3/15/11)
14. Keys to the Repository (Blue Bloods novel) – Melissa de la Cruz (3/16/11)
15. Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods novel) – Melissa de la Cruz (3/24/11)
16. Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods novel) – Melissa de la Cruz (3/25/11)
17. Little Vampire Women – Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina
18. Hunger – Barbara J. Hancock
19. The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire (8/21/11)
20. Night World Vol. 1 – L.J. Smith (10/23/11)
21. Night World Vol. 2 – L.J. Smith (10/26/11)
22. Night World Vol. 3 – L.J. Smith
23. Accidentally Dead – Dakota Cassidy (10/8/11)

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #3

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 4

Pages Read Today: 426
Total Pages Read: 1106

Hours Read Today:  1 hour 29 minutes
Total Hours Read:  7 hours 36 minutes

Today #insixwords: Disappointed by formulas with decent characters.

Mini Challenges: None today

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (4 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (4 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (2 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!  Vampire Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #2

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: 2.3
Total number of books I’ve read: 3.3

Pages Read Today: 537
Total Pages Read: 680

Hours Read Today: 3 hours 53 minutes
Total Hours Read:  6 hours 7 minutes

Today #insixwords: I love Wee Hughie and witches.

Mini Challenges: None today.

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (3.3 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (3 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (2 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge — Page to Screen Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith (in progress)
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

The Boys: Highland Laddie

Title: The Boys Vol 8: Highland Laddie

Author: Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, and John McCrea

Publisher: Dynamite 2011

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

How I Got It: J owns it

Out of Dynamite Entertainment's critically acclaimed title, The Boys, comes a special story featuring everyone's favorite pint-sized Scotsman, Hughie, with The Boys: Highland Laddie, written by Garth Ennis, with covers by Darick Robertson and art by Herogasm artist John McCrea. Mind reeling from recent events in The Boys, Wee Hughie heads home to Auchterladle - the semi-idyllic Scottish seaside town where he grew up. All Hughie wants is some time to himself, to return to the bosom of family and friends, and get his head together after two years of unimaginable chaos. But our hero's luck has always been more cloud than silver lining, and the familiar surroundings he craves are not all they might be. You can go home again, but with old pals warped beyond recognition and strangers in town up to no good, whether or not you should is another matter entirely. Collecting issues #1-6 of the Highland Laddie series, along with a complete cover gallery.

Another interesting volume.  This one focused completely on Hughie.  I loved seeing him in his hometown with his parents and old friends.  I guess I didn't realize that he was adopted.  Did I miss that in a previous volume?  Or was that a new reveal in this one?  Hmmm... anyway it gives a bit of information that helps to explain why Hughie is the way he is.  I also liked the reappearance of Annie.  He still hasn't revealed his big secret, but they've had a great talk about superheroes and lost dreams.  And there's a big secret revealed at the end.  I won't spoil it for you, but it's something I've suspected might happen and was excited at how they did it.  Really interesting!

The Boys:

1. The Name of the Game
2. Get Some
3. Good for the Soul
4. We Gotta Go Now
5. Herogasm
6. The Self-Preservation Society
7. The Innocents
8. Highland Laddie
9. The Big Ride
10. Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker
11. Over the Hill with the Sword of a Thousand Men
12. The Bloody Doors Off

The Boys: The Innocents

Title: The Boys Vol 7: The Innocents

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 184

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

How I Got It: J owns it

So where are the good superheroes? The warriors for truth and justice, the defenders of the American way? The supes can't all be dirtbags... can they? Meet the true heroes of The Boys' universe, the young men and women who fight to make things right and ask nothing in return: the teenage adventurers from our far future that the world knows as SUPERDUPER! Meanwhile, convinced that Hughie was never what he seemed, Butcher goes to see the Legend... and sets somethingterrible in motion for our little Scots pal.The Innocents reprints The Boys issues #39-47, along with a complete cover gallery by artist Darick Robertson.

Another great volume.  I'm really loving the focus on the development of Hughie's character.  We get to see more and more of his thoughts and ideas.  I especially love his reactions to The Boys' plans.  He definitely is the most interesting character throughout the series.  I can't wait to see what happens now that he knows Annie is Starlight.  This should really get interesting.  Oh! And I almost forgot about The Homelander's plans.  I wonder how VA and The Boys are going to react to this turn of events.

The Boys:

1. The Name of the Game
2. Get Some
3. Good for the Soul
4. We Gotta Go Now
5. Herogasm
6. The Self-Preservation Society
7. The Innocents
8. Highland Laddie
9. The Big Ride
10. Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker
11. Over the Hill with the Sword of a Thousand Men
12. The Bloody Doors Off

Top Ten Tuesday - Spooky Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

1. Anything by Stephen King -- He is the master of the unsettling.  My favorite has to be The Shining.  Topiary animals still creep me out.

2. Autumn by David Moody -- I had to include a few zombie stories.  And this one is the scariest zombie story I have every read.  You must read it!

3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies -- A fun mash-up between my favorite author and my favorite monster.  Delightful combination.  Not exactly scary, but those illustrations are beautiful works of art. 

4. Anything by Edgar Allan Poe -- My favorite scary author of all time.  My 6th grade reading teacher did a whole unit on him.  Some of the other students hated his stories.  I found them fascinating. 

5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley -- Not a traditional scary story, but a horrifying vision of a possible future.  I definitely don't want to live in that world. 

6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman -- A fun scary story.  I was definitely creeped out by the Other Mother and I read this for the first time last year.  My kids were too scared of her to see the movie when it came out.  Very creepy!

7. Dracula by Bram Stoker -- The grand daddy of all horror stories.  I love it!

8. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan -- A very moody zombie story.  Not exactly scary, but it is unsettling.

9. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova -- I love the old vampire stories and this one feels like it's centuries old.  The combination of digging into the past the supernatural is too good to pass up.

10. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz -- I read these over and over as a child and they creeped the hell out of me.  I still find them scary even after all these years. 

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0 Update #1

Update

Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1

Pages Read Today: 143
Total Pages Read: 143

Hours Read Today:  2 hours 14 minutes
Total Hours Read:  2 hours 14 minutes

Today #insixwords: The answer is 42!

Mini Challenges: Nicknames and Titles from Reading the Paranormal and Love Triangles from Creative Deeds.  Go check them out!

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books (1 done)
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read (1 done)
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges (2 done)
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge -- Page to Screen Challenge completed!
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope's Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Page to Screen Challenge Finished!

With finishing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I completed the Page to Screen challenge.  I only signed up for 10 this year and I think that was appropriate.  I definitely want to do this next year, but am thinking about increasing the number.  As you can see, there's a few books/movies on my list that I didn't get to yet.  I'm sure there'll be more to add as the months progress.

This year's list:

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (10/24/11)
2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (7/18/11)
3. The Children of Men by P.D. James
4. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore (1/28/11)
5. The Prestige by Christopher Priest (6/14/11)
6. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (4/23/11)
7. Watchmen by Alan Moore (4/30/11)
8. Water for Elephants by Anne Gruen
9. HP and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (8/11/11)
10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (8/21/11)
11. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler (9/20/11)
12. Contact by Carl Sagan
13. Heat Wave by Richard Castle (10/13/11)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Title: TheHitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

Publisher: Del Ray 2002

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 143

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Science Fiction; Page to Screen; A to Z Author: A

How I Got It: I own It!

It's safe to say that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the funniest science fiction novels ever written. Adams spoofs many core science fiction tropes: space travel, aliens, interstellar war--stripping away all sense of wonder and repainting them as commonplace, even silly.  This omnibus edition begins with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in which Arthur Dent is introduced to the galaxy at large when he is rescued by an alien friend seconds before Earth's destruction.

Book

A wonderful reread.  I just love the wackiness of Adams' universe.  From the ship Heart of Gold to Marvin the Robot, this book gets me every time.  I read this today during the down times are work.  And I'm sure some of my coworkers think I'm that crazy giggling girl.  I can't help but laugh out loud at the passages.  I decided to just reread the first book in the series.  I just wanted to remember how this crazy train started. My favorite parts are still the excerpts from the Guide.  But this time I really stuck on the introduction of Zaphod from the Guide.  All of Adams' characters are fun and slightly quirky, but Zaphod takes the cake. 

Beeblebrox, the man who invented the Pan Galatic Gargle Blaster, ex-confidence trickster, once described by Eccentrica Gallumbits as the Best Bang since the Big One, and recently voted the Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe for the seventh time...  -- Pg. 67

The best introduction note in all of literature. 

Movie

Now what to say about the movie...  I really have mixed feelings abotu this one.  I love some of the actors and scenes.  And then I'm just dissapointed with some of the other aspects.

The Good -- I just adore Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, and Zooey Deschanel.  They are perfect (but I'm going with Sam's Zaphod as my favorite).  They embody the characters well.  And I can't forget about Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast.  He plays the best "is he daffy or increibly wise" character.  Love him!  I did like the interludes of the Guide entries.  The one about the Vogons is especially fun.  

The Not-So-Good -- I feel like the movie mostly missed the tone of the book.  They made it this romance between Arthur and Trillian.  They wrapped the story up at the end.  The book doesn't have those things.  I felt like the movie tried to be too much of a "normal" story; something the book just isn't.  

The book is amazing; a must read.  The movie: not so much.   

Bout of Books Readathon 2.0

From On a Book Bender:

Due to popular demand, we are going to have another Bout of Books read-a-thon.  I took the feedback that I received after the first Bout of Books read-a-thon, and have made some changes to see if they work better.

• Bout of Books will run from 12:01am 10/24 through 11:59 pm 10/30 (your time zone)
• Read as much as you can whenever you can.  I know that this Bout of Books is close on the heels of the Dewey Read-a-Thon; this was an oversight on my part, but if you plan on reading AT ALL, please sign up.  The only person you are competing against here is yourself.  There is no pressure.
• Bout of Books should be about networking with fellow bloggers in addition to reading.  You were going to read that week anyway, right?  Bout of Books gives you the opportunity to share your reading experience with other readers.
• Use #boutofbooks on Twitter to update people on your progress and what you are reading.  Feel free to follow me (@BookBender) and your co-hosts (links to follow) for Bout of Books information, but please do NOT @ me (or the co-hosts) with all your updates.  This happened during the last Bout of Books, and it was unnecessary and flooded people’s timelines.  Using #boutofbooks should suffice.  I will try to repopulate the Bout of Books Twitter list.
• Sign-up (beginning 10/6), the master list of participants, official schedule (up by 10/20?), and wrap-up post will all be here on my blog.  I will also give people the opportunity to post their read-a-thon goals and possible books to read.  My Bout of Books “starting line” post will go up on 10/22.
• Each day during Bout of Books has a different co-host.  They are in charge for the day, and will offer you a place for you to share your daily progress if you wish as well as a challenge.  Please note that co-hosting is an experiment and I am hoping you will give me feedback at the end of the Bout of Books regarding your experience.
• Your co-hosts (with blog and Twitter links) and the tentative challenge schedule are as follows:

10/24: Shirley @ Creative Deeds (@creativedeeds) — Guess the Love Triangle Challenge

10/25: Darla @ D for Darla’s Definite Reads (@DforDarla) — Dream Cast: Book to Movie Challenge

10/26: Joli @ Actin’ Up with Books (@ActinUpwb) — Book Spine Poetry Challenge

10/27: Erin @ Let’s Evaluate — Guess the Cover Challenge

10/28: Jen @ Not Now…I’m Reading! (@NotNowImReading) — Match the UF sidekick with the hero/heroine challenge

10/29: Christi @ Smitten with Reading (@ChristiSnow) — Bout of Books Babble Challenge (creating a haiku)

10/30: Vivienne @ Muse Books (@musesong) — Witchcraft in Popular Fiction Challenge

I'm so excited to do this readathon again.  I loved it the first time.  I'm going to love it the second time around.  I participated in the Dewey readathon, so anything I didn't finish for that it going on my list for this one.  I will probably be slow to start, but hope that the end of the week is productive.  I know I won't top my record from last time (13books!) because I am now working full time.  But I'm going to try anyway.

My goals:

• Read at least 5 books
• Read at least 1 Net Galley book (TBD)
• Review all books read
• Participate in at least 2 mini challenges
• Complete at least 1 reading challenge
• Read at least 2 hours a day

My TBR pile:

• Penelope's Daughter by Lauren Corona
• Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Contact by Carl Sagan
• Changeless by Gail Carriger
• Blameless by Gail Carriger
• Heartless by Gail Carriger
• Night World Vol. 2 by L.J. Smith
• Night World Vol. 3 by L.J. Smith
• Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
• The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
• The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall
• The Boys: Vol. 7
• The Boys: Vol. 8
• Jack of Fables: Turning Pages
• Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince

Night World Vol. 1 by L.J. Smith

Title: Night World Vol. 1 (Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, Spellbinder)

Author: L.J. Smith

Publisher: Simon Pulse 2008

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 752

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires; 2011 - Show It Who's Boss

How I Got It: I own it!

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.

Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.

Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder.

I was a bit hesitant going into this series.  I love the Twilight saga, but am a bit done with the sparkly vampires genre.  Thankfully this series is a bit more series vampires than sparkly vampires.  This definitely reminded me of L.J. Smith's other series The Vampire Diaries.  Now I wasn't a huge fan of that series.  Amazingly enough, I love the television series better than the book series.  I was happily surprised by this series.

Secret Vampire -- A good classic boys meets girl story although this boy is a vampire and this girl is dying.  I loved the characters of James and Phillip.  They were likable and believable.  I thought that at times Poppy was incredibly childish acting.  Especially so when we compare her to her brother's behavior.  It made me wonder about the difference in maturity levels between her and James.  Thankfully she did seem to grow up at the story progressed.  The timeline was just a bit rushed for my tastes.

Daughters of Darkness -- Definitely my favorite from this volume.   I love the reintroduction of bad boy Ash.  We see him as the lethal vampire in Secret Vampire, and here we get to see his true nature.  I also loved the interactions between Ash and his sisters.  They were a treat, especially Kestrel.  I hope to read more about her in future volumes.  My problem with this story lies in the ending.  It's just so unbelievable.  I thought that soulmates would do anything to be together.  Instead, Mary-Lynnette is content to let Ash leave and when he says he'll come back next year, she's completely noncomittal.  Doesn't sound like a true love...

Spellbinder -- I always love a good story involving witches.  And this one was great with supernatural entities, romance, and jealousy.  All around I liked the story.  My only issue was with Blaise.  If I was Thea, I would have gotten seriously pissed at her and left her in the dust.  At least in the end she atoned for her crimes against Thea.

Night World

1. Volume 1: Secret Vampire/Daughters of Darkness/Spellbinder
2. Volume 2: Dark Angel/Chosen/Soulmate
3. Volume 3: Huntress/Black Dawn/Witchlight