Bout of Books 23 Wrap-Up

Bout of Books Final Tally: 

Well, I both did and didn't fulfill my goal for the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon this year. My state goal was a total of five books and I did manage that--and a little over (see below). However, I went off-script and read three Basil of Baker Street books instead of finishing Angels in the Gloom plus Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse and

Raisins & Almonds by Kerry Greenwood. BUT--getting that much reading done during one of my busiest work weeks of the year was a definite win and I want to thank Amanda and Kelly for sponsoring this event and encouraging us to read, read, read!

Completed Reading

Great True Stories of Crime, Mystery & Detection by various authors; edited by Reader's Digest

The Blind Spot by John Creasey

Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus

Basil & the Pygmy Cats by Titus

Basil in Mexico by Titus

Angels in the Gloom by Anne Perry (76 pages out of 337)

Bout of Books Day 6

Bout of Books Day 6 Update: 

So far I've read five books--two from my original list and then I took a detour through Eve Titus's children's books featuring that great mouse detective, Basil of Baker Street. I've started a sixth book (and third on my proposed list), Angels in the Gloom by Anne Perry. We'll see if I can finish that one before the Bout is over.

Great True Stories of Crime, Mystery & Detection by various authors; edited by Reader's Digest

The Blind Spot by John Creasey

Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus

Basil & the Pygmy Cats by Titus

Basil in Mexico by Titus

Bout of Books 23 Day 3

Day 3 of the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

I'm still working away at my 576-page true crime book (almost done!). It would help read-a-thonning if I didn't have to work and it weren't the beginning of a new academic year here at the university. (Crazy-making!) But--joining in on the Bout of Books has definitely kept me more motivated in reading this week than if I hadn't participated.

~Update at 9 pm. I've finished my first  book! Yay!

Today's prompt--Literary Villains: Who are your favorite literary bad guys?

Here's a top ten list I made quite some time ago. I don't collect favorite villains as a rule, so this list still stands.

1. The White Witch from C. S. Lewis. One of the first baddies that I ran across (unless you count the Big Bad Wolf with the three little pigs or his cousin with Little Red Riding Hood). She was really slick wasn't she? Snaring little boys with Turkish Delight.

2. Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes's arch-nemesis. How could I not list the "Napoleon of Crime"--"the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in [London]"?

3. The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. Gotta love a villain whose best line is "Off with her head!"

4. Big Brother in 1984. Government evil at its worst.

5. But wait, then there's the government that sends out the Firemen in Farenheit 451. A book blogger has GOT to hate those who condone and enforce book burning!

6. Iago in Othello. The ultimate, sneaky, behind-your-back, better-keep-your-eyes-on-him-at-all-times, butter-won't-melt-in-his-mouth, bad guy.

7. Cruella de Ville. Wants to murder puppies for a fur coat. What more need I say?

8. Dorian Gray. Willing to kill just so he won't be criticized by his "conscience" and so he can stay pretty.

9. Mr. Hyde. Letting loose all that's bad and horrible in man.

10. Mrs. Danvers. The original creepy housekeeper. Particularly as played by Judith Anderson in the Hitchcock version.

Bout of Books 23: Day 2

Here I am with my Bout of Books update. So far I have read 392 pages of my first book, Great True Stories of Crime, Mystery & Detection by various authors; edited by Reader's Digest. This book has 576 pages total and if it's the only book I get done during the read-a-thon, that's still a heck of a lot out of the way.

Yesterday's challenge was to comment at Bout of Books with an introduction of ourselves in six words. Mine was "Too many Books. Not Enough Time." Today, the challenge is to give the plot of a book in emojis. I'm no dab hand with emojis, so I'm just going to post this little update and get myself back to reading....

Bout of Books 23

For those of you who don't know what the Bout of Books is, here's the info straight from the source:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 20th and runs through Sunday, August 26th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 23 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I haven't participated for quite some time, not because I haven't wanted to but because it tends to fall right when I'm busiest at work. And that's true this year too. BUT I am woefully behind on the number of books I planned to read this year and I figure a read-a-thon's got to help. Right? Right! So, here goes....I'm officially signing up to see how many books I can knock out this week. Want to join me?

I'm not sure if I'll stick with these or not, but here are some books that I'd like to get done if possible:

Great True Stories of Crime, Mystery & Detection by various authors; edited by Reader's Digest

The Blind Spot by John Creasey

Angels in the Gloom by Anne Perry

Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Raisins & Almonds by Kerry Greenwood

Bout of Books 2016

I'm hoping that now that the academic year is over things will calm down and I can get a good bout of book-reading done this week (and in the weeks to come). That's why I'm signing up for the annual Bout of Books Read-a-Thon. Below is the scoop from the fine folks who organize this reading extravaganza each year. If you'd like to join us, then you need to sign up by Tuesday night.

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 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

And here is my list books read:

1.
 

Bout of Books Wrap-Up

So....how did I do with the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon? Not too well with the daily participation--I took part in only two of the mini-challenges and didn't get a single update entered.  Boo!  I did (almost) manage to complete all five books as planned--if I hadn't had to go to sleep last night so I could go to work today then I would have finished the Rendell book.  So--Books Read? A  Participation D+  I'll have to work on that next time around.  But--I'm still glad to have joined in...it kept me motivated and on-track as I start out a new year of reading.

1. Shakespeare's Planet by Clifford D. Simak (done! Hope they're all that easy! 1/6/14)

2. The Skeleton in the Clock by Carter Dickson (1/8/14)

3. Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell (90% finished 1/12/14--completed today)

4. Angels & Spaceships by Fredric Brown (1/12/14)

5. Dangerous Visions 3 by Harlan Ellison, ed (1/11/14)

Bout of Books: Book Spree

Rachella at Bookish Comforts is offering up a $100 Book Spree to Bout of Books participants.  Our mission...to go to the Book Depository and shop for up to $100 in books.  We post about our wish list and enter her give-away (and cross our fingers and hope she picks us! Here's my list:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Ward Radcliffe  $8.95
Murder in Montparnasse by Kerry Greenwood  $14.11
The Pere-Lachaise Mystery by Claude Izner  $12.59
Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery by W. J. Burley  $8.99
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus W. Hume  $12.33
The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christe  $11.43
Strangled in Paris by Claude Izner  $13.13
Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood  $13.27

Total: $94.80

Bout of Books: Challenge

  

Our first mini-challenge of the Bout of Books 9.0!  Cheap Thrills has given us a list of words to grab from book titles to make a Mad Lib story.  Here's the list with my choices:

Character Name: Beverly of Graustark by George Barr McCutcheon
Adjective 1: Dangerous Visions 3 by Harlan Ellison
Adjective 2: The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel
Item: The Skeleton in the Clock by Carter Dickson
Occupation: The Professor's Mystery by Wells Hastings & Brian Hooker
Act of Violence: Murder by Latitude by Rufus King
Adjective 3: A Silent Witness by R. Austin Freeman
Noun 1: Bedknobs and Broomsticks by Mary Norton
Noun 2: The Body in the Bookcase by Katherine Hall Page

And my story with the words above inserted:

I just read the greatest book!

This guy Beverly ends up in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy. Turns out his ancestors were pirates, and he might be the key to finding the Purple Clock. It’s a mythic artifact that disappeared centuries ago, and now a shadowy group of professors are looking for it. No one knows what uncovering it might do, but these guys are willing to murder for it.

I won’t say anything else. But believe me, if you like silent stories with broomsticks and a bookcase, you have to read this one.

Bout of Books Starting Line

Ooops. I was so into my reading today that I completely forgot to get my starting post up.  So..here we go.  I'd really like to read at least four more books this week.  More would be better--but four will do it for me.  I say four more because I've already got one under my belt today.  Here's the plan:

1. Shakespeare's Planet by Clifford D. Simak (done! Hope they're all that easy! 1/6/14)

2. The Skeleton in the Clock by Carter Dickson (1/8/14)

3. Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell (90% finished 1/12/14--completed today)

4. Angels & Spaceships by Fredric Brown (1/12/14)

5. Dangerous Visions 3 by Harlan Ellison, ed (1/11/14)

Other possibles:

6. Nemesis by Isaac Asimov

7. Triumph by Philip Wylie

8. Other Times, Other Worlds by John D. MacDonald

Haven't heard of Bout of Books? Looking for a read-a-thon to get your reading year off to a good start? Check out the info from the Bout of Books gals...But do it quick...the linky closes on January 7!

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, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th 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 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Bout of Books: January Read-a-Thon

It's been a while since I participated in a read-a-thon.  The next edition of Bout of Books is coming in January and I am posting to let our wonderful hosts (and all of you) my intention to join. I'm hoping to use it to jump start my reading in the New Year. Haven't heard of Bout of Books? Looking for a read-a-thon to get your reading year off to a good start? Check out the info from the Bout of Books gals...

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, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th 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 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I will put together a more detailed goal post (and list of books) when Bout of Books begins.

Starting Line Post
 

Bout of Books: Wrap-Up

The Bout of Books read-a-thon was organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It ended at midnight Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone we were in. 

 

So....due to circumstances out of my control (detailed in the last update, I won't subject you to it again)...I did much less reading than planned.  I always enjoy doing the Bout of Books read-a-thon because it helps me stay on track for all the challenges I sign up for.  I was hoping to finish at least four books--but that just didn't happen.  Here are the final stats:

Books finished:  

Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen  (343 pages)

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (381 pages)

Paritals:

Poems and Prose by Christina Rossetti (260 pages)

Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh (We'll call it about 130 pages--my husband, the math-whiz, figured up how many pages = how many tapes I managed to listen to).

 

I have had my usual good time--participating in about half of the mini-challenges.  Thanks to Amanda and Kelly for organizing this again!

Bout of Books Update

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 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Each day there are challenges for those who signed up by Tuesday and we are called on to do an update.

Here's my progress update for Friday and Saturday, August 23-4:

 

So....my whole read-a-thon train got derailed.  I had to make a weekend run up to my parents house and my car died and they had to bring me back home so I can be at work tomorrow morning.  Which means I got very little reading done.  My intentions were to listen to a book on tape while traveling up and back (half-way accomplished) and to read my physical book-in-progress after the parents had gone to bed (I'm a night-owl; they're not).  That so did not happen.  So--as of Saturday night, here are the stats....

Books finished:  

Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen  (343 pages)

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (381 pages)

Currently Reading:

Poems and Prose by Christina Rossetti (232 pages so far--all progress on Friday before I left)

Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh (We'll call it about 90 pages--my husband, the math-whiz, figured up how many pages = how many tapes I managed to listen to)

I was really hoping to have one if not both of these done by now....but it's not looking good.  

Bout of Books: Progress Update #4

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 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Each day there are challenges for those who signed up by Tuesday and we are called on to do an update.

Here's my progress update for Thursday, August 22:

Books finished:  

Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen  (343 pages)

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (381 pages)

I'm still not making quite the progress that I had hoped.  I blame it on the craziness at work...

Currently Reading:

Poems and Prose by Christina Rossetti (19 pages so far)

Challenge:

Bookish Mad Libs @ The Space Between

You can copy and paste this list into your entry, then replace each item with your book title and author:

A. Place name or type (from a book title) can be a proper name or noun like Italy or mountains: 84 Charing Cross Road {London} from the book
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (read earlier this year)

B. Fave Villain (from a book - list title/series): Professor Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes stories

C. Adjective (from a book title) (hot, cold, dark, etc.): Careless from
The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner (read last month)

D. Number (from a book title): Twenty from
Twenty First Century Blues by Richard Cecil (read last month)

E. Noun (from a book title): Circus from
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (read earlier this year)

F. Fave Hero/Heroine you wouldn't mind spending a LOT of time with (from a book - list title/series): Lord Peter Wimsey (from the detective series written by Dorothy L Sayers)

G. Dessert (from a book title): Plum Pudding from Plum Pudding Murder by Joanna Fluke (read last year)

My Mad Lib:

Help! I'm being held captive at 84 Charing Cross Road {London} by Professor Moriarty!
It is very Careless here!
He is demanding Twenty Circuses to set me free!
I have just discovered that Lord Peter Wimsey was captured too!
On second thought, please send Plum Pudding, and don't worry if you don't hear from us for awhile!

Much Love,

(Bev@My Reader's Block)  

Bout of Books: Progress Update #3

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 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Each day there are challenges for those who signed up by yesterday and we are called on to do an update.

Here's my progress update for Wednesday, August 21:

Books finished:

 Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen  (343 pages)

I'm not making quite the progress that I had hoped.  I blame it on the craziness at work...

Currently Reading:

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (138 pages so far)

Quote: If I looked strange to Joseph when he admitted me, he said nothing. Once Judy had said that Joseph had no capacity for astonishment, and the thought supported me that night as, certainly nervous and probably bulging, I entered my own house.

Challenges:

Book Road Trip @ In Wonderland

Stephanie is asking us to come up with a list of the top 5-10 states/places you'd love to visit and find a book (you either read or want to read) that takes place in that state/place or a book by an author who lives or is from there.

My Bookish Road Trip:

1. The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime by Michael Sims, ed [England] ( read 11/5/12)

2. Death at Crane's Court by Eilis Dillon [Ireland] (read 5/23/13) 

3. The Sparrow (Wings of the West #3) by Kristy McCaffrey [Grand Canyon, Arizona]

4. Once on This Island by Gloria Whelan [Makinac Island, Michigan]

5. Sixth Column by Robert A. Heinlein [Rocky Mountains, Colorado] (read pre-blog)

6. Murder & Blueberry Pie by Frances & Richard Lockridge [New York City, NY]

I Spy... @ Paperback Dreamer

I Spy…

 ...Snowflakes

A lovely, leather-bound copy of The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

 ...Flames

The Fire Engine that Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö

 

...A City Skyline

A very stylized view of NY City's skyscrapers on Catch as Catch Can by the Lockridges

 

 ...The Moon

The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

 ...A Sword

 

The Eight of Swords by John Dickson Carr

...A Wedding Dress

 

White Orchids by Grace Livingston Hill
 

...High Heels

 

Nancy's rocking her high heels in The Secret of the Old Clock

...Fog

London Particular (aka Fog of Doubt) by Christianna Brand

 ...A Christmas Tree

Mistletoe Mysteries by Charlotte MacLeod

 ...Sunglasses

 

The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö

...Lightning

 

A Dark Time by Dennis Bradford

...A Tattoo

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

 ...Combat Boots

Into the Valley by John Hersey (my copy shows both boots)

 ...Handcuffs

 

The Secret Life of Houdini by Kalush & Sloman (now those are some handcuffs!)

...A Road

 

Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter [and the road it took :-) ]

Bout of Books: Progress Update #2

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 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Each day there are challenges for those who signed up by yesterday and we are called on to do an update>

Here's my progress update for Tuesday, August 20:

Books finished:

 Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen  (343 pages)

Currently Reading:

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (74 pages so far)

Quote:  And then suddenly the whole carefully woven fabric was destroyed. Strange and mysterious and bitter that must have been. Everything provided against, and then at the last to be destroyed by a door, a thing of wood and paint with an ordinary tarnished brass knob. (p. 7)

Today's Challenges:

 

TBR List Challenge @ Musings of a Bookship Girl

Five Books at the Top of My TBR Pile: 
The Dreadful Hollow by Nicholas Blake   
A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado  
Poems & Prose by Christina Rosetti
A Bullet in the Ballet by Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon
Rules for Murder by Julianna Deering

If Given a Wad of Cash, What Five Books Would I Add to the Stack (you'll have to send me to a used bookstore for these):

Panic Party (aka Mr. Pidgeon's Island)  by Anthony Berkley

Only a Matter of Time by V. C. Clinton-Bradley

Death & Letters by Elizabeth Daly

Spin Your Web, Lady! by Francis & Richard Lockridge

Busman's Honeymoon: A Detective Comedy in Three Acts by Dorothy L Sayers & M. St. Clare Byrne (the play version)

AND

Book Spine Poetry @ Such a Novel Idea

Grab books from your stack and use the spines to create a poem.  
Take a picture and post it.

Rules of Murder:

Suspicious Circumstances [and an] Appointment With Death
A Nice Class of Corpse....Good Blood

[there's] Crime on My Hands

Detection by Gaslight [leads to a] 
Case With No Conclusion

The Perfect Crime!