For all Bout of Books 4.0 information, please visit the Bout of Books blog.
Time Devoted to Reading
I will be committing myself to reading the entire week.
Vlog
I made a vlog with my goals and books. You can watch the vlog or read what I have below. Or you can do both. Whichever you prefer.
Goals
- Have fun!
- Establish a computer usage schedule (and stick to it).
- Read 5 books
Get stuck in Twitter jail(Wednesday: jailed @BookBender and @boutofbooks; Friday: jailed @BookBender)
Books to Read
- Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsGraceling by Kristin Cashore- Insurgent by Veronica Roth
- 1 free ebook (
Ascension by Felicity Heaton) - (added)
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Updates
5/14
Number of books I’ve read today: .61
Today #insixwords: Started off great, then petered out.
Books: Graceling (286)
Things I learned on Twitter: Peen Safaris are fun, though slightly distracting.
5/15
Number of books I’ve read today: .54
Total number of books I’ve read: 1.15
Today #insixwords: I finally finished a book! Huzzah!
Books: Graceling (185), Ascension (15%)
Things I learned on Twitter: Graceling (and Fire and Bitterblue) are very well-loved books. Kelly likes to talk about me when I’m not around. I start acting weird when I’m still groggy and pretend to launch water balloon announcements at everyone, and threaten to ask questions about giraffe shifters if no one gives me Twitter chat ideas. Peen safaris are still fun.
5/16
Number of books I’ve read today: 1.17
Total number of books I’ve read: 2.32
Today #insixwords: I read! Tweeted! Went to jail!
Books: Ascension (85%), Anna and the French Kiss (118)
Things I learned on Twitter: I need to learn how to pace myself. Not only did I get myself jailed within 15 minutes of the Twitter chat, but I landed @boutofbooks in jail before my hour was up. Does this mean I completed my goal twice?
5/17
Number of books I’ve read today: .68
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Today #insixwords: It ended better than it started.
Books: Anna and the French Kiss (254)
Things I learned on Twitter: Nothing I didn’t already know. Twitter has been lackluster in terms of learning new things lately.
5/18
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 4
Today #insixwords: Going off list was very productive!
Books: On the Edge (309)
Things I learned on Twitter: It’s apparently VERY easy to get Twitter jailed. As I did it AGAIN. Uh… I like answering people’s odd questions they ask me that are completely unrelated to #boutofbooks. People like John Green and Harry Potter. I pretty much already knew that, though.
5/19
Number of books I’ve read today:
Total number of books I’ve read:
Today #insixwords: I have officially given up now.
Books:
Things I learned on Twitter:
5/20
Number of books I’ve read today:
Total number of books I’ve read:
Today #insixwords:
Books:
Things I learned on Twitter:
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal May 12, 2012 at 12:05 am
I own all the books on your list except Insurgent – BUT I own Divergent so that should be like a trade off.
I LOVE YOUR VLOG! I will totally help you get stuck in Twitter jail. TOTALLY!
Bout of Books, FTW!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 12:07 am
After I filmed my vlog, I realized that Insurgent is number four on my list… and Four is a character. FOUR!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal May 15, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Amanda, I want to huggle your face.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm
I’m going to huggle your face first. *huggles your face*
Becky May 12, 2012 at 2:29 am
Hope you get to Anna and the French Kiss, its SO good =D
GOOD LUCK!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 8:57 am
I should get there. At the rate I’ve been reading lately, I may even need to add more books. :)
Alexa May 12, 2012 at 2:52 am
I have only read Anna and the French Kiss from your list of books and I wasn’t taken with it how everyone else was. It was still a great story but I wasn’t head over heels in love with it. I was however very deeply in love with the companion book Lola and the Boy Next Door, I wish you could just skip to that one since I loved it lol.
I’m like Kelly and haven’t read Divergent but I’m trying to wait till June to read Divergent and Insurgent together. I also have a copy of Graceling and If I Stay which I need to read but I just have too many review books to read for this Bout of Books.
Great video and I hope you can stick to your goals. I still need to get my goal post done!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 9:00 am
YA contemps aren’t *normally* my thing, so I’m curious whether I’ll like it or not.
Boo for review books getting in the way. That’s kind of why I stopped taking them. I need time to read the books I want, or else reading loses its fun for me. =/
Ellie May 12, 2012 at 3:36 am
I need to set some goals to break…because I’m not sure I’ve ever managed to be productive during an organised readathon. Spend too much time on Twitter!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 9:01 am
That is EXACTLY my problem, too, and why establishing a computer use schedule is actually one of my goals this time around. lol.
Kelsey May 12, 2012 at 5:38 am
I have Graceling too on my list! I’m reading Insurgent now, but haven’t gotten a chance to read the others on your list yet. Good luck with your goal of 5!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 9:02 am
I’ve heard so many things about Graceling (and after just meeting Kristin Cashore) I’m really excited to get started on it.
CreativeDeeds May 12, 2012 at 6:34 am
Good luck! I have If I Stay on my list, so at least we have a series in common. I’m glad, from the previous comments, that I’m not the only person who hasn’t read Divergent. I’ll get to it eventually.
LOL! Leave it to Kelly to offer help getting you in twitter jail. ;) Looks like our only job isn’t helping you keep ‘sanity in check’ this week.
Oh yeah… be sure to have some FUN!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 9:03 am
Keeping my sanity check is, of course, your most important job.
Anne May 12, 2012 at 8:01 am
Lots of great books here! I can’t wait to hear what you think of Cashore’s work, she’s one of my favorites! Though I don’t actually remember Graceling hardly at all beyond that I loved it – I got it from the library aaaaaaages ago. I got it through paperbackswap recently though, so if I get through my new reads goals this week, I may turn to the rereads list, and that is 2nd on there (after Divergent). Good luck! And don’t worry about getting in Twitter jail, I’m sure we’ll help a lot (what do you have to do to get into Twitter jail? I’ve heard people talk about it, but not actually what you’ve done…)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 12, 2012 at 9:05 am
To get into Twitter jail, you have to tweet too much in a short space of time. I think it’s something like over 100 tweets in an hour. I’ve done it once before, and rather than being upset by it, it amuses me to no end.
Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea May 12, 2012 at 12:22 pm
All of these books are great! I’ve read three of them, and heard great things about Graceling, so I’m planning on reading it soon! Good luck with reaching your goals.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Thanks, Hollie!
Jess @ Gone with the Words May 12, 2012 at 4:06 pm
No, YOU’RE welcome, Amanda. :)
I can’t believe you’re reading 3 of my favorite books!! WSW, Anna, and Graceling! (Really, I should count Insurgent too, because I know I’m going to love it.)
Have fun! And I hope you love what you read! :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:23 pm
I should just rename my goals to “read whatever Jess wants me to read.” =P
Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives May 12, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I’m going to have to set my phone on silent and set it away from me when I’m reading….like in another room where my lazy butt will have to walk across the house to get it.
YAY Where She Went!
YAY Anna and the French Kiss!
YAY Graceling!
YAY Insurgent!
YAY Free Books!
YAY Twitter jail!
(my husband left the couch and I was able to listen to your vlog)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:25 pm
This past week I put my phone on silent (in the same room, though) and that worked really well for me, as far as disconnecting myself. I will probably do something similar this week.
(I’m glad you were able to listen to my vlog. lol!)
Rebecca May 12, 2012 at 8:41 pm
All of these books are on my TBR list but I won’t be reading them this week (plus I have to read Divergent and Where she went first- both also on my list) Enjoy your picks!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:26 pm
I read Divergent during a previous Bout of Books. It’s a good read-a-thon book in that it is completely engrossing and hard to put down BUT it’s a bad read-a-thon book in that it is super long. :)
Christy (Love of Books) May 12, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I’m psyching myself up as much as I can.
How much do you have to tweet to go to Twitter Jail?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:26 pm
I’m not sure exactly. I think it’s something like over 100 tweets in less than an hour. I’ve done it once before.
Charlotte @ LitAddictedBrit May 13, 2012 at 7:34 am
Ooh, Graceling – good choice. It’s a perfect read for a Read-A-Thon and I loved it! I’m reading Insurgent at the moment (and hoping to finish it this afternoon so that I can start tomorrow with a new book. It’s great, just not quite as great as Divergent.
Thanks for hosting!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I can’t wait to start Graceling – I recently saw Kristin Cashore at a book signing and it got me excited to read her books.
Sarah E. May 13, 2012 at 9:57 am
I’m hoping to read Insurgent too :)
I love “Twitter jail” – too funny!
Good luck with your goals!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Thanks, Sarah! :)
Prangon - The Nerd In Heels May 13, 2012 at 11:08 am
I have all your books in my TBR but for some reason I never seem to get closer to those *face palm*
Keeping 1 free book in the goal is an awesome idea, I know I have a HUGE pile of them. Eep.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:28 pm
I have a lot of books in my TBR pile like that. You are not alone!
Ning May 13, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Insurgent is on my list as well!! I’ve heard great things about Graceling and Anna and the french kiss as well! Love your blog and its layout.
Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Thanks, Ning. I hope you enjoy Insurgent! I’m a little nervous to read it.
Alissa May 13, 2012 at 2:15 pm
OMG YOU’RE GOING TO READ ANNA. I WANT UPDATES AS YOU GO, BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:29 pm
lol. Yes, Alissa. Will do!
Reading Angel May 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Anna, WSW, and Insurgent!! Read-a-thon list of awesome! I have been meaning to add Graceling to my line-up but it keeps getting pushed back. Like you I have all 3 (although I have not met her…lol).
Maybe if I’m crazy awesome and read all my books I’ll squeeze it in! :)
(Although with life and computer distractions I don’t see that happening…hehe)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 13, 2012 at 9:30 pm
I am hoping this will be the readathon of awesome. :) I think meeting Cashore definitely helped move her books up the list. Really looking forward to those now. :)
(I totally hear you on the life and computer distractions, though)
Michelle @ The True Book Addict May 14, 2012 at 1:29 am
Thanks for hosting again! Good luck with your goals. I’m going to ty to get more reading done this time. We shall see!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 14, 2012 at 8:38 am
Thanks, Michelle! Good luck to you as well. :)
Felicia May 14, 2012 at 6:28 am
YOU ARE AWESOME!
I would help get you thrown in Twitter Jail but I have a feeling despite planning I will probably miss all the prime opportunities :)
Anna is on my list to try (maybe)—can’t wait to see what you think!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 14, 2012 at 8:41 am
Everyone is so in love with Anna that I’m curious what I’ll think of it, too. lol.
Amy @ bookgoonie May 14, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Great books. All should be good & hopefully quick reads. I look forward to stalking you to see what you think of them, especially Graceling. Thanks for pulling this all together…you and your minions.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 14, 2012 at 10:55 pm
I HAVE MINIONS! This is the best day EVER.
I started Graceling today. I really like it, and would have continued if I hadn’t lost all my reading focus today. Tomorrow, though!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal May 18, 2012 at 1:04 am
Anna and the French Kiss was sooooo gooooooood.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 18, 2012 at 8:22 am
I knoooooooooow!
PS. I still haven’t linked myself up in a while. You’re the only person who comments. lol.
Smash Attack May 19, 2012 at 1:14 pm
ROCK ON! Loved the poem. “A monstrous Beauty that makes you wither, shiver…” Cool!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 19, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Thanks, Ash! Book spine poetry is my favorite. I’ve forgotten to participate in all the other challenges, but this is one I DIDN’T WANT TO MISS!
Pragya May 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Ooh, I love your poem and those books, aaargh, so jealous. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 20, 2012 at 11:55 am
Thanks, Pragya. :)
Jen @ A Book and a Latte May 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Wow, I love your book spine poetry! I enjoyed doing this challenge way more than I thought, and love reading everyone’s entries. Great job!
~ Jen @ A Book and a Latte – my Book Spine Poetry
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 20, 2012 at 11:56 am
Book spine poetry is always one of my favorite challenges. I have a little fondness for poetry, though usually I’m not very good at it. ;)
Abbi(gatorade635) May 19, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Really good job on the poem!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 20, 2012 at 11:56 am
Thanks, Abbi!
CreativeDeeds May 19, 2012 at 7:18 pm
I already told Kelly.. and she called me a DORK… on TWITTER no less. I did today’s challenge, didn’t follow the directions and used more ‘extra’ words than I had books. *hangs head in shame and puts myself in corner* It was fun anyway! Just thought I’d ‘turn myself in’ before Kelly had a chance to. ;)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 20, 2012 at 11:56 am
Shirley, I saw that you didn’t follow directions as soon as you posted your poem. I SEE things.
Stephanie May 20, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Great job on your spine poetry! It was really creative! *Bows down to the master of spine poetry* ;)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender May 20, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Ha. Don’t go giving me more titles to use. I’ll take them and use them as it suits me. ;)