Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

I start off pretty much every Bout of Books readathon by going to book group on the first day and not reading anything! This time will be no different. It also means I will only be able to make the Saturday Twitter chat.

So really, it’s a bit of a relaxed readathon for me, will try and read 4 not-too-taxing books and incorporate them into my Review Copy Cleanup which has also got off to a slow start.

Goals:
4 books
1 Twitter chat
Host a challenge

Books:
Skylark by Meagan Spooner
Shift by Kim Curran
Others to be decided.

Updates:
I’ll be doing these daily on this post and tweeting with #boutofbooks.

Monday:
Read a bit at lunch and a bit before bed but really only about an hour in total thanks to book group and stuff. By the time you read this my limerick challenge will be in full swing and I hope to stop by a bunch of blogs.

The book: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. I am quite surprised by how much I am enjoying this now. Hoping to finish Tuesday.

Items of note: I discovered the mythical snail tree!


Tuesday:
Thank you all for your limericks, they have brought a smile to my face. I intend to visit and comment on them all but it will take a while if I am ever going to get any reading done. The winner of the prize draw (chosen at random) is Jennifer @ A Librarian’s Library.

The book: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller.

Items of note: Lovely bookish post from Simon & Schuster (surprise) and Indigo (expected). I even got some bookmarks which is rare, so yey!


Wednesday:
I finished a book! Kind of wish these readathons started on a Saturday so I could get ahead as I’m pretty stretched for time on a week night. Review of The Dog Stars to follow shortly…

The book: Also read 16% of Shift by Kim Curran in preparation for the Strange Chemistry launch party next week. Squee! So far seems like a British, YA Butterfly Effect.

Items of note: For a day that started off wet and gloomy (the lights had to be on even during the day) it turned into a glorious, if slightly windy, evening and I got to read a little outside!


Thursday:
A good portion of Shift read and wrote my review of The Dog Stars. Things are picking up!

The book: Still Shift, am really enjoying the humour and there a proper scary villain!

Items of note: Lovely post today, a bookworm bracelet made out of typewriter keys! Each one is unique but you can find similar designs at The Magic Closet Etsy shop. For a 10% discount code, check out The Book Garden (and thanks to Birgit for drawing my attention to them).


Friday:
I finished Shift AND participated in a challenge. Go me! Relying on the weekend to get me caught up, need to read TWO books.

The book: Started Skylark by Meagan Spooner. It feels a little bit predictable so far although there is some potential in the world. We’ll see.

Items of note: My book spine haiku!

Faithless, blameless, lost
Girl meets boy where three roads meet
Under the same stars


Saturday:
Reviewed Shift and finished Skylark which turned out to be really good after its generic start.

The book: Next up, Go to Sleep by Helen Walsh.

Items of note: I had wanted to read outside in the sun but it turned out to be a grey muggy day here…until the evening when I found time for a little stroll.


Sunday:
A week is no time at all is it? I very nearly read my four books; The Dog Stars, Shift, Skylark and Go To Sleep. I hosted a challenge and I entered another. And the fates of Twitter made sure I didn’t miss Saturday’s chat (I had forgotten but was on there faffing when it started).

The book: Go To Sleep is a really good reminder of why I don’t want children (not that I need one). A really honest story of a single mum trying, and failing, to cope. Review to follow.

Items of note: It was so, so hot outside. Reported temp in the shade was 26 degrees but the humidity meant it was a day designed to lie around doing nothing.


The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 13th and runs through Sunday, August 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 5.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books 5.0 team