Bout of Books 7.0 Goals and Updates

I am going to participate again in this read-a-thon!  I really need to get caught up on some books andwhen I saw others participating in it I knew it was perfect for me.  It starts on the 13th!

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, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 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 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

Don't forget to use the #boutofbooks hashtag when updating on Twitter and follow boutofbooks.
I will be updating my progress here on my webpage and on my my twitter page. 
I will only be updating to this page so check back here. I also will be doing my challenges on this link so scroll down to the bottom to see them!

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading 2 hours a day/during the week/ not exactly sure how much reading I will get in on the weekend... but hopefully a lot!

My Goals:
I would like to read 3 books.  I am in the middle of a Harry Potter re-read and really would like to get it done this week finally.  I have 1 book left. NOS4A2 is a long book... so I may only get Harry Potter done and this one.  I might get to Reached... hoping to.

I would like to participate in a twitter chat.  I participated in one last time around and it was a lot of fun and a GREAT place to get advice from other people.   

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 0
 Name of book:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Total number of books I've read: 0
Number of hours read:  3 hours!!
What else I did: Today was busy.. I waxed my car... did a whole bunch of yard work.  So I didn't start reading until about 530 PM.  But I am getting pretty far in the book!  Harry Potter re-reading is almost complete!

Tuesday

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 0
Name of Book:  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 Number of Hours I've read: 0
 What else I did: Today I did not get any reading in.  I would've but I planned a Halo video game night with a good friend who lost her spouse last month.  This was the first time she wanted to get back into gaming since then.  So I spent about 4 1/2 hours playing with her.  I feel good about this.. so missing some reading is OK in my book!  Tomorrow will be better for reading!


Wednesday

Number of books I've read today: 0
 Total number of books I've read: 0
 Books: 0
Number of Hours I've Read: 0
What else I did:   I worked in the yard all day.. and then had to stand in line for Star Trek the new movie.  I thought I would read in line.. but yea right!

Thursday

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 1
 Books:The Frog Princess by E.D Baker
Number of Hours I've Read:3
What else I did: Can you believe it.. I read a book.  214 pages.  I had to squeeze this one in because tomorrow is my Project Disney post about The Princess and the Frog.  This book just came in today so I was forced to read it!!  Be on the look out for my post tomorrow.

Friday

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 1
Books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Number of Hours I've Read: 1
What else I did:  Today I was busy and then I finally went to see Iron Man 3.. so my reading time wasn't all that great.  :(

Saturday

Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:
Number of Hours I Read: 
What else I did:

Sunday

Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:
Number of hours I read: 
What else I did:


Challenges:
Challenge 1:
Book Spine Poetry hosted by Escape Through the PagesMake a Book Spine Poetry Poem.  Well I suck at poetry and I mean big time!!  
so here is what I came up with:

It says... The Historian is Missing... BLOOD! Said the Cat.... The Gunslinger only found Shadow and Bone.  Yea I had to add words to make it make sense!!!  I don't have a large collection of books because I get most books from the library.  And the two in the middle are OLD books from when I was in middle school and my mom would buy me Fear Street books.  They had the most interesting titles to use.  This was so much fun!!


Challenge 2:
Book to Music hosted by Medusa's Library

Do I have any books tied to music?  Well this is a good one.  I have to think.  I don't normally think of music to books. Unless the book has music mentioned in it.  So I guess I will go with those...
I recently read Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.. which of course takes place in the 80s.  So that made me think of Rock Of Ages (the broadway show.. the movie was so-so... but Tom Cruise was hot...) Ok back on subject...

So Eleanor and Park + the 80s + Rock of Ages =

+

MEANS Some Journey!! I love Steve Perry!!









Challenge 3:
Alternate Titles hosted by The Book Barbies

I have never really loved the title for the Harry Potter book I am reading.. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  I don't know why.   It's just I feel like the book was more then that.  Harry Potter and He Who Must Not Be Named.  That should've been the name of at least one of the books I think... I used to have this poster long before the movies came out that said "He Who Must Not Be Named".  I must've thrown it out years ago.

Challenge 4:
Create a Cover hosted by I Talk Books!
 GAW!  Didn't get to this one

Challenge 5:

Acrostic Poem hosted by Harley Bear Book Blog



Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler is what I am going to pick.  This book made me obsessed with cupcakes! 
Blueberry Cupcakes
 Iceing
 Taste the frosting

 To the cupcake shop
 Every day a new flavor
 Raisins on top please
 Sweet tasting
 Waist getting larger
 Eat them all
 Every flavor
 Thankful for napkins

Challenge #6
Personify a Book hosted by Kimberly Erskine

Wow... well let me think... I am going to pick Superman comics... yes all Superman comics!!  Superman is my husband Eddie.  He is amazing.

Superman and my husband are brave and kind-hearted hero with a strong sense of justice, morality, and righteousness.  I believe that my husband really tries to help others without question.  His integrity drives me nuts sometimes.  He refuses to be a bad person and we need more of him in this world.  Here we are!!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I've been seeing Eleanor and Park all over the blogs, so I was really happy when my Young Adult Book Club picked it for this months' book club pick.  We are not only discussing the book but having a questions and answers session with Rainbow Rowell the author on May 15th! Here is the goodreads description of the book:

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
 "So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers. 
"I’m not kidding," he says. 
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen." 
"What about Romeo and Juliet?" 
"Shallow, confused, then dead." 
''I love you," Park says. 
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers. 
"I’m not kidding," he says. 
"You should be." 
 Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under. 

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a great short read. It won't be one of those books I'll remember for all time (I just read Hunchback of Notre Dame which I will remember forever). But it satisfied me enough to love this book. I love that Eleanor sounds like a normal girl. Yea she's over weight.. and doesn't wear make-up or do her hair (which I would drive myself crazy if I didn't) but she is who she is and accepts it. Unlike Eleanor... I was always made fun of in high school for being thin. I didn't have any boobs at all, I had acne.. so I would wear really big non-fitting close to hide my skinniness. I would never ever wear a bathing suit without a tee-shirt over it. Now that I am older I am the only skinny one left and I wear a bikini all the time! Everyone should check out this article written by Rainbow Rowell about Unconventional Beauty.
Really it is a good article!
This book made me remember WAY back to my first love, my first kiss. That awkwardness of high school dating. I actually dated someone who was in a similar situation as Eleanor. His family was poor. I went to his house once and was shocked. The kid's mattresses were on the floors. There was no furniture. The dad was a jerk. I was there for dinner and myself and all the kids got burgers on pieces of bread. The dad came home from work and he got steak and a big fancy dinner. Another time I went to the house and it was lunch time and the parents weren't home there wasn't any food in the house and all the little kids were just starving.  I remember not knowing what to think about it.  I remember having $40 on me and it must've fallen out of my pocket because when I left I went to get food from a fast food place and of course my money was gone.  They may have stolen it.  I don't know.

Wow.. the parents in this book are insane! Eleanor's mom just makes me angry. I don't know why some women put up with so much abuse from men. I couldn't really tell when this book took place? 1980s? There must've been shelters for battered women back then I would think. I am a little sad that the neighborhood knew how Richie was but no one paid attention enough to stop it.

Park's parents seemed like a very good family. The book was funny to me at time's when Park's mom was mentioned. I have a friend who's mother is from Korea too. I thought it was funny when Park said that his mom still talks like she just came from Korea and hasn't been in America for 30 years. That is just like my friend's mom! I was a little surprised Spoiler: Park's dad didn't really have a problem with him taking Eleanor to Minnesota. My parents would've killed me at 16. End Spoiler And Eleanor's dad (biological dad), what a crappy dad he is too. Never talks to Eleanor and then has her come over when he needs her to watch him and his new wife's kid. And then doesn't even give her the full $10 to babysit!

I recommend this book for anyone looking to read about love.  

 

The crystal ball says:

Fog is coming.....  in the middle of the road on this book!

Follow Me Friday

 

This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostesses Parajunkee & Alisoncanread. Sounds like GFC is eventually going away so follow by email or bloglovin/feedly (I love both). And now for this week's question....

Q. Give us a sneak!  What are you reading? Tell us about a Fun or Fail scene in your current read.

A.  Well I am currently reading Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell for my Young Adult Book Club.  I am enjoying that this book is fun and different.  I think one of the fun scenes in this book is the kissing scene with Eleanor and Park when she stops him from giving a kiss and tells him it is going to be awkward because she has never kissed anyone before.  Who does that??  It is funny in a book that is full of all kinds of emotions.  If you have read this book or are reading it be sure to stop by the book club and let us know what you thought about it.  Also... the author Rainbow Rowell will be stopping by the group May 15th for a Q&A with everyone so check that out as well! So much fun!

What are you reading?

Q&A with Rainbow Rowell and YOU ask the questions!

I have another great Questions and Answers coming up with author Rainbow Rowell!  She is the author of the Young Adult Book Club's April book club pick Eleanor and Park.  She'll be stopping by the group here to answer your questions on May 15th. Remember, any time I have a Q&A YOU get to come by and join in so be sure to welcome her and get your questions in by then.  The book discussions about Eleanor and Park will be all month long in May so stop on by and tell us what you think about the book!

Questions and Answers with Rainbow Rowell