Bout of Books 9.0

I can't believe I'm doing this when Spring Semester is starting tomorrow BUT this read-a-thon is all about what you set out to do not challenging yourselves against others. So with that in mind below are my goals for the Bout of Books 9.0. I'm updating only here. I will leave a link somewhere on my blog so you can see how far I'm getting each day. I will link on The Sunday Post my final results. This is my sign up, goals, and update post. Good luck to all who are taking up the challenge!

Time Devoted to Reading:

I will be reading all week!

My goals: 

• Read and review 6 books.
• Read at least 1,500 pages
• Comment on at least 10 other blogs.
• Participate in at least 1 challenge. 

Books to Read:

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin

Savages by Matt Whyman

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

Updates:

Monday, January 6th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 0
Number of Pages Read: 156
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 156

Notes: I'm stopping Peter Pan and Wendy tomorrow for a little while although I do want to complete  it this week. I'm supposed to be reading it with a buddy. 

Tuesday, January 7th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 502
Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 658

Notes: Took me all day to read Inkheart. I shouldn't have picked such a large book to read right away. It's going to be harder to get to my goal. Will start reviewing it tonight.

Wednesday, January 8th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 180
Total Books Read: 2
Total Pages Read: 838

Notes: Starting The Savages today. Should be able to finish it tomorrow morning. Very dark but wonderful.

Thursday, January 9th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 228
Total Books Read: 3
Total Pages Read: 1066

Notes: Going to continue Peter Pan today. Might start The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls later on too. Half way through my goal!

Challenges:

Double Date Book Challenge
Hosted by Writing My Own Fairy Tale

"You must pick two books that you would recommend someone read together (like a double date!) and explain your reasons for the recommendation. You can recommend the books because they are in the same genre, one is a retelling of the other, they deal with the same issues, or maybe they're complete opposites, whatever you want as long as you can explain why they should be read together. Just one exception: they cannot be books from the same series. You can leave your answers in the comments or post your answers wherever you're posting your Bout of Books updates and leave the link in the comments. Then make sure you fill out the Rafflecopter! And don't forget to have fun with it! I can't wait to see all the pairings you guys come up with!"

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Both have to do with the choices we make.

Found Poem

Hosted by Pen in Her Hand

Just choose a novel from any genre, print or ebook, that you’re reading or have finished. I used Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison. Pick a number between 1 and 10, and you’re ready to start!

1. Flip to a page at random. Using your trusty number (for example, let’s use 7) count down 7 lines. Then count in 7 words. Write that word down. Repeat this process until your have fourteen words. Here are my words: have, general, darkness, week, sit, all, do, because, my, the, secret, what? says.

2. Delete two words and add in two words of your own. I deleted the words general and my. I added the words pause and then.

3. Now arrange your words any way you like to finish your found poem.

I used The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand. My number was 8. My words were: was, clean, order, reason, trance, the, of, gone, records, report, like, was, their, found. Replaces a was and records with a and getaway.

Their order was gone;
Like a trance - the reason found
Report of clean getaway


Friday, January 10th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 0
Number of Pages Read: 61
Total Books Read: 3
Total Pages Read: 1127

Notes: Now I will start Peter Pan... I want to start and finish The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. I'll probably end up reading and reviewing 5 books - not four because I didn't read Peter Pan as much as I wanted to. It's fine. I'm pretty happy where I am so far.
Later - So it seems I'll be just reading 4 books. I did end up reading Peter Pan some more and I'm half way through. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls has fantastic writing so far.

Saturday, January 11th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 1
Number of Pages Read: 357
Total Books Read: 4
Total Pages Read: 1484

Notes: Just realized Sunday is the last day so I have time to read a 5th book! 
Later - Finally read my 4th book! I might read And We Stay by Jenna Hubbard tomorrow. I don't think I'll finish off Peter Pan. I'll do it on my own later.

Challenges:

Book Staging Challenge
Hosted by Midnight Book Girl

Description:  You know how real estate agents will stage an apartment to attract potential buyers?  Well, that’s what you’re going to do to a book!

Rules:  Take a picture of a book you’re reading today, or any book you have lying around.  In the picture you should have the book in a setting, or surrounded by items, that represent the book.  It can mimic the cover, or represent characters/events/etc from the story.  Basically, make us want to read the book based on picture alone.

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand - I based my items on Victoria, the main character, who likes everything just so. She's obsessed with being the top in her class so I added a medal that says winner. I added a headband and a black jacket to represent the clothes she likes to wear. And then I added a textbook, notebook, pencil, and pencil sharpener to represent her studying attitude which of course is very organized so she can study and do well on her tests at school. I put the image in black and white to represent the creepy, old feeling of the cover and the story. I've only started this book but it seems to me that Victoria is very brave just as a heads up that she's not all attitude.

Sunday, January 12th

Currently Reading:

Number of Books Read: 0
Number of Pages Read: 102
Total Books Read: 4
Total Pages Read: 1586

Notes: Not the best photo finish but I did read a lot this week which I am really happy about. Next time I'm going to focus more on the page views.

Bout of Books 9.0 Wrap-Up

Completed Goals:

Read and review 6 books -> Read 4 books, reviewed 3

Read at least 1,500 page -> 1586 pages

Comment on at least 10 other blogs. -> a little more than ten

Participate in at least 1 challenge. -> participated in three challenges