Adding to the Stacks - #15

I added 4 books to the stacks this past week. My library sells donation books and I found 3 on the same day. The last one I purchased at my boys' school book fair.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. One of my library sale finds. A book about a bookstore. Yes, please!
How to Win Every Argument by Madsen Pirie. Another library sale find, I bought this one because My Favorite is the king of twisting conversations around to confuse me. He finds it quite fun. Perhaps this little book will give me some ways to play with him.
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury. My last library find. Picked this one up because I thought the topic was interesting. I am always interested in books that relate to selling and think this one fits that since a big part of selling is getting someone to say yes to your products.
The Key To Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd. This little gem was a clearance book at my boys' school book fair. Her first book, A Snicker of Magic, is one of my favorite books ever. If this one is even half as magical as that one, I am going to enjoy it!

Top Ten Tuesday = the One Where I Make Up My Own List

It's Top Ten Tuesday!

I didn't know how to answer this week's prompt over at That Artsy Reader Girl so I made up my own.

Goodreads has this nifty little thing that shows you a list of your most read authors. Since I started adding my books on there, these are my ten most read authors:

Robert Kirkman - The Walking Dead graphic novels
Brian Vaughan - The 7 Saga graphic novels
Marissa Meyer - 6 books
George R.R. Martin - 5 books
Katie McGarry - 5 books
Mira Grant - 5 books
Leigh Bardugo - 5 books
V.E. Schwab/Victoria Schwab - 5 books
John Green - 4 books
Og Mandino - 4 books

It's My Favorite's Birthday!

Today is My Favorite's birthday! Even though he says it's just another day, it's a big one so I can't fail to mention it. Happiest birthday wishes!

Winter Biannual Bibliothon - Final

I posted my Winter Biannual Bibliothon goals here. I made an update post here. I made my goal of completing 3 challenges and surpassed it by 1. Yay! I could have technically completed more if I had used a book for more than one challenge but I decided not to do that. I am happy with completing four!

I read Otherworld by Jason Segal - challenge #1 - group pick. This could also have counted towards challenge #3, read a book you've never heard of before.

I read One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake - challenge #2 - sequel

I read Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith - challenge #4 - mental illness. This also could have been counted for challenge #3, read a book you've never heard of before.

I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - challenge #5 - book mentioned in another book, movie or tv show. This one could have also counted towards #6 which was to read a book under 200 pages.

And all of them could count towards challenge #7, to read a backlist book.

Am pleased with my reading for this Bibliothon. Making my goal rarely happens!

My view for the weeek...

It's my favorite time of the school year...the book fair!

I love being able to volunteer at my boys' school but the best thing to do is to work the book fair. Some of my fondest moments from childhood are of going to my own school's book fair to buy books. Although they are not as excited as I was, it's still fun to walk around and look at all the books with them.

Winter Biannual Bibliothon Update #1

The Winter Biannual Bibliothon is going quickly. I have finished 2 of the 7 challenges.

Challenge #2 - to read a sequel...

Challenge #5 - to read a book that was mentioned in another book, tv show or movie...

This one could also count for Challenge #6 which is a book under 200 pages but I really want to get to The Colour of Milk so I am not going to count it. Yet. It also counts towards my yearly goal of reading a classic each month AND is one that I own. Whoop! I love this Owlcrate exclusive cover.

If I read one more book, I will finish my unofficial goal of reading 3 during the readathon. Here's to more happy reading...

2018 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

This challenge is perfect for me to complete #5 on my yearly goals list. Hosted by Celebrity Readers, it's a challenge with 3 different levels of participation. I had set my goal as completing 5 series this year but had yet to look at all the ones that I have not finished.

My list is not complete. I looked at duologies/trilogies/series for the past 2 years. As I go back further in my Goodreads list, I will add to this list. Since I have more than I thought, I'm going to up my goal to 9 to complete the A List Challenge!

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith

Career of Evil #3

Monsters of Verity by Victoria Schwab

Our Dark Duet #2

Jane Hawk by Dean Koonz

The Whispering Room #2

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury #2 (my own)

A Court of Wings and Ruin #3

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

One Dark Throne #2

Arc of the Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Thunderhead #2

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne #2 (my own)

Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown

Golden Sun #2

Morning Star #3

Joe Ledger by Jonathan Maberry

The King of Plagues #3

Assassin's Code #4

Extinction Machine #5

Code Zero #6

Predator One #7

Kill Switch #8

Dogs of War #9

Top Ten Tuesday...on a Friday!

Top Ten Tuesday has moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is our bookish resolutions/goals for the year. I've been batting around a few ideas this month but haven't put them down on paper yet. This theme is perfect for me to finalize my list!

1. Read 75 books before December 31, 2018. I read 74 last year but that included graphic novels so 75 is going to be a stretch for me. 

• Read in 2013 - 85
• Read in 2014 - 40
• Read in 2015 - 59
• Read in 2016 - 31

The highest number read was in 2013 when I was the most active on my blog and in the book community. I am hoping that being back on my blog will help me have better luck reading this year.

2. Read one classic per month. I would like to average one classic a month. Giving some leeway on this one...if I read 2 in a month, I can skip a month. I tend not to reach for classics but, generally speaking, I enjoy reading them when I do pick them up. Hoping that having this goal will put them more on my radar.

3. Read a mix of adult and young adult. I have gotten much better at not just reading YA. Not that there is anything wrong with reading just YA but I want to read more adult.

4. Read a mix of personally owned and library borrowed. I am terrible at reading my own books. I read library books because they have a due date. I don't want my own to look "used" or to get dirty. But then they sit on my shelves and gather dust instead. I challenged myself several years ago to alternate library books with owned books and did really well. 

5. Complete 5 series this year. I haven't nailed this one down yet. I need to check my Goodreads list to see what needs to be completed.

6. Buy more books. "What?!" you might ask? You need to challenge yourself to buy MORE books? Well sort of. I am terrible at buying new books because of the cost but I love them so much. Less guilt is my real goal.

7. Read some old favorites. There are quite a few authors that I used to read that I never pick up anymore. When I was the most active in the book community I was receiving ARCs and didn't read many by the same author. I would like to read some of the authors I loved before.

8. Reread. I want to reread all of Leigh Bardugo's books, The Hunger Games trilogy, The Night Circus, and The Shatter Me trilogy. I am sure there are others that can be added to this list!

9. Complete 3 challenges. I am terrible at challenges. I start them but don't follow through. This will be the year of follow through! 

10. Read at least half of the book club books. Am a member of 2 different book clubs. Since I have a hard time forcing myself to finish a book that I don't enjoy, I have a tendency not to read the book club selections. I would like to read at least half of the books this year even if I HATE them. :-)

Winter Biannual Bibliothon TBR Possibilities List 2018

Although I will more than likely not complete anywhere close to the 7 challenges, I do like having my possibilities picked out.

Challenge #1 – Read the group pick

Otherworld by Jason Segal

Challenge #2 – Read a sequel

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas or

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

Challenge #3 – Read a book you've never heard of before

DOUBLE UP – Otherworld by Jason Segal or

Secrets of Southern Girls by Haley Harrigan

Challenge #4 – Read a book about mental illness

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green or

Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith

Challenge #5 – Read a book that was mentioned in another book, movie or tv show

DOUBLE UP – Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

• This read will also count towards my Read one Classic a Month Challenge

Challenge #6 – Read a book that is under 200 pages

DOUBLE UP – Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll or

The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon

Challenge #7 – Read a backlist title

DOUBLE UP – read any of the above

Check out the Bibliothon YouTube channel here.