#TheReadingQuest

I seem to have stumbled across an amazing event over at Aentee's blog, Read At Midnight, called #TheReadingQuest, just in time! This event will be taking place from Sunday, August 13th, to Sunday, September 10th, and features some gorgeous artwork by CW @ Read, Think, Ponder - just see for yourself by checking out the awesome game board below (click the image to view the full size):

If you're curious to check out the rules of the event, you can check out the sign-up page HERE. But basically, like an RPG, you can choose your class, and this class will determine your quest (which in this instance is a reading quest). Below are the four classes that you can choose from:

I think I'll choose the Bard for this challenge, and aim for the following books (which are subject to change on a whim):

A Book That Has A TV/Movie Adaptation:

A Fairy Tale Retelling:

A Book Cover With Striking Typography:

A Book Translated From Another Language:

A Banned Book:

I don't really have any plans right now for any of the other paths, as I would be super lucky to even finish all of the above books within the time-frame. I'm curious to see how I do in this challenge, however. Most of the books above were chosen because they're books that have been sitting on my bookshelf, and still have yet to be read! So hopefully this challenge will help me out with getting to them, hehe.

Are you interested in signing up for #TheReadingQuest? Curious to find out the details of how this challenge works? Or, maybe you just wanna check out what the prizes are? Then head on over to Read At Midnight and find out, HERE!

Diversity December Bingo

There's a fun event happening this month on Twitter - #DiversityDecBingo. The point is to score BINGO by filling out the card below (though you get total props for filling out the entire card!):

I'd like to give it a go this month, and see how many of these squares I can knock out. I'll update this post with my reads as I finish them, and mark off the bingo boxes as I go. 

Now, reading diversely is something I aim to do on a regular basis, but it's pretty cool that a bingo card exists to help diversify my diverse reading (lol). It's important to put yourselves in the shoes of others and understand that your world is not the only world out there, especially now in the aftermath of this year's election. What better way to do that than to read diverse novels that are actually written by diverse authors? 

I would love it if you would join me! And don't forget to check out the hashtag #DiversityDecBingo on Twitter to see how everyone else is doing, and to get some great recs on books to add to your TBR!

Non-Western Real World Setting

Set in Japan.

Own Voices

Blank Bingo Card (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge

Yet again, I will be participating in Megan's reading challenge, dubbed the Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge. Megan hosts a challenge every season, and while I have yet to fully complete one, I always end up reading some great books that I wouldn't have picked up if it weren't for this challenge (which is sort of like a bookish scavenger hunt, as you have to find and read books that fit under the given categories - one book can only count towards one category). 

This post is basically where I track what books I am able to read during the challenge, but feel free to check out the categories below and see if this challenge is something you'd like to participate in. It runs from Nov. 1st - January 31st, so you can still sign up if you'd like to give it a try - it's fun! Here are the categories for this season's challenge:

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages.

10 points: Read a debut book by any author. (The book does not have to be a 2015 debut.)

10 points: Read a book that does not take place in your current country of residence.

10 points: Read a book (200+ pages) that someone else has already used for the challenge.

The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew (Read by Tara)
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (Read by Kathie)

15 points: Read a book published under a pseudonym.

Trapped by Jack Kilborn (a pseudonym for J.A. Konrath)

15 points: Read a book with “boy,” “girl,” “man” or “woman” in the title (or the plural of these).

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (464 pages; 5 stars)

15 points: Read a book with a one-word title (e.g. Attachments, Americanah, Uglies, Wild, etc.).

20 points: Read a book with a person's first and last name in the title .

The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden by Emma Trevayne (247 pages; 3 stars)

20 points: Read a food-themed book.

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

20 points: Read a book with a verb in the title.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

30 points: Read two books with the same title (by different authors).

Relic by Renee Collins
Relic by Douglass Preston & Lincoln Child

Trapped by Jack Kilborn
Trapped by Michael Northrop

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Sold by Zana Muhsen, with Andrew Crofts

30 points: Read a nonfiction book and a fiction book about the same subject.

Two books about depression & mental illness:

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (non-fiction)
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (fiction)


POINTS SO FAR: 35

R.I.P. X

Artwork by Abigail Larson

It's that time of year again! I have been looking forward to starting the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril X challenge (R.I.P. X), as I really love reading spooky novels and watching scary movies during the Autumn season in September and October. Normally, this event is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings, but this year he has passed the torch onto The Estella Society. R.I.P. never fails to get me in the Halloween spirit (my favorite holiday of the year, FYI), so no matter the host, I am in!

This post is where I will keep track of my goals and progress, and I will be updating it periodically throughout the course of the event. Keep in mind that this challenge isn't just limited to Halloween/Horror, but also includes Mystery, Suspense, Gothic, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural, and pretty much anything that gives off a similar vibe. R.I.P X will officially run from September 1st - October 31st, so if you'd like to join in the fun, please do so!

"Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between."

Goal: Read At Least 4 Spooky (or Monster-y) Novels

1) Here They Lie by D.K. Burrow

2) Chasing The Moon by A. Lee Martinez
3)
4)

"I am a big fan of short stories and my desire for them is perhaps no greater than in Autumn. I see Poe and Lovecraft in my future for sure, and some Angela Carter. You can read short stories any time during the challenge."

Goal: Read At Least 3 Creepy Short Stories

1)
2)
3)

"This is for those of us that like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large. It might be a television show, like Dark Shadows or Midsomer Murders, or your favorite film."

Goal: Watch At Least 10 Horror Films

1) The Mist (2007)

2) Altar (2014)
3) Psycho (1960)
4) Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

And as always, if any of you know if there are any other reading challenges going on this month that are Halloween-related, please let me know so I can check them out!

Semi-Charmed 2015 Book Challenge

So, I just realized that Megan @ Semi-Charmed Kind of Life was already hosting the Summer 2015 Book Challenge. I'm about a month late, but I've decided to still sign up and give this challenge a go, since, surprisingly, a lot of the books that I read in May can count towards a category. I'm excited that I'm not behind!

If anyone is interested in joining, there's still time - you can sign up and count any applicable books that have been read since May 1st, 2015. Let me know if you decide to join in!

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (452 pages)

10 points: Read a book you have never heard of before.

Falling by Barbara Elsborg 

(282 pages; browsing on Amazon & immediately bought it and read it on my Kindle)

10 points: Read a book that has been on your TBR list for at least two years.

10 points: Read a book that won a Goodreads “Best Book” award in 2014.

15 points: Read a book by an author who is completely new to you.

15 points: Read a book by an author you have read before. (No re-reads for this one.)

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout (392 pages; I've read "The Lux Series" before)

15 points: Read a book with "light" or "dark" in the title. (Or "lightness" or "darkness.")

20 points: Read a book with the name of a city, state or country in the title. The place must be real, either current or historical, but not fictional.
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (294 pages; named after Monument, Colorado)

20 points: Read a book with an animal on the cover.

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs (336 pages; there's a wolf howling in the background)

25 points: Read a book that is part of a series with at least four books.

Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford (330 pages; book 4 of 'Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter')

25 points: Read a book that is longer than 500 pages long.

Cress by Marissa Meyer (550 pages)

30 points: Read a book with an alliterative title.

Ending Points: 120

Blog Ahead

I haven't really devoted as much time to blogging lately as I would have liked - it just seems like lately there's been so much going on in my life that blogging and reading have taken the back burner. That being said, I would never want blogging to become a chore in my life. I just love reading, plain and simple, and I enjoy sharing about the books I love, and feeling like I'm part of a community, which is what the book blogosphere has become.

Once I discovered this challenge that Herding Cats & Burning Soup created (which I found through Cindy's Love of Books), I knew I wanted to participate, and while I'm not going to aim for the full 30 posts (though it would be great if I could create that many!), I'd like to try for writing as many as I can. I just want to see how many posts I can come up with while I'm consciously focused on doing so.

Here's a description of the event, as written by the creator:

A bloggery version of NaNoWriMo!

November 1-30th, 2014

The Goal

The basic goal is to get "ahead" in your blog posts.

At the end of the month of Nov you'll have 30 additional pre-schedules than when you started the month.

ex--If you Start with 5 pre schedules--End with 35 pre schedules

Start with 10 pre schedules-- End with 40 pre schedules

Who Can Join

Any blogger. New, seasoned, Blogger, Wordpress

Any heat level, genre or theme, etc

Types of Posts

Anything you want :)

meme, review, guest post, interview, discussion, etc.

It doesn't have to be book related

Think you'd like to give it a go? Sign up HERE! 

Semi-Charmed Winter 2014 Book Challenge

Hola, dear readers! It's time for another one of Megan's seasonal book challenges. If you're not familiar with her challenges, I highly encourage you to check them out - I always describe them as bookish scavenger hunts, which is basically what they are, since the point is to read books that fit into each of the given categories (and not your average categories like "romance" "drama" or "YA," but imaginative categories like "read a book that features mentions a type of weather in the title; i.e. rainy, windy, etc." or "read a book that depicts a famous landmark on the cover; i.e. London Bridge, Eiffel Tower, etc.").

I always have fun with these challenges, and recommend that if you haven't done one yet, you should give it a go. Here are the categories for this season's challenge, and some of the books I hope to read (which are subject to change at my whim):

*This Challenge Will Run From November 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015*

    

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
10 points: Read a book of short stories.

Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
10 points: Read a book with a food in the title.

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy

  

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you.

Storykiller by Kelly Thompson
15 points: Read a book originally written in a language that is not your native language.

The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning (German)
15 points: Read a book written by a local author.
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (El Paso)

  

20 points: Read a "bookish book" (in which books play an important role).

S. by Doug Dorst & J.J. Abrams
20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title.

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
25 points: Read a book from a genre you don't usually read.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon(Historical Romance)

  

25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title.

Ain't No Sunshine by Leslie DuBois (Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers)
30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title.
Breakfast at Darcy's by Ali McNamara
The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate

POINTS SO FAR: 85

If you'd like to join in on the fun, please create your own preliminary reading list, and join the link up.

{Bingo!} Horror Reading Card

It seems that Tanya @ Girlxoxo.com has created a Horror Reading Card (inspired by the BINGO cards done by Stormy @ book.blog.bake) for this Halloween season. This isn't a competition, and there are no rewards, so I've decided I might as well give it a go - it sounds like fun! October is already almost half over, and sadly, I've only read two books, so I'm not gonna stress myself out over trying to compete for anything. Instead, I'll see how many of these I can mark off, and hopefully shoot for a regular ol' BINGO. Maybe I'll aim for completing row four. I'll list the books I read underneath the card once I complete them.

Creepy Cover

Small Town

My Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit & Crew

.

So, I was wandering around the blogosphere, randomly clicking on event links in an effort to discover new blogs (which, by the way, is a GREAT way to discover blogs), when I discovered this awesome event! Hosted by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books, Dani @ Entertaining Interests, and Mina @ Some Dark Romantic, Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew is an event that was created to celebrate premiere of the new season of The Walking Dead on AMC October 12th. Basically, bloggers must post their ideal crew & survival necessities based on the given categories. 

What makes it difficult is that you can only choose one person or item per given category, so you really need to choose wisely. After much careful thought, I have decided on the following:

*Items you already have on your person: undergarments, a shirt, bottoms, socks, tennis shoes, and a backpack

A Character from The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon

Because he's Daryl Dixon, DUH!

A Character from a Book

Katniss Everdeen
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss is an amazing shot with a bow and arrow, making her an excellent stealth fighter - when killing zombies, it's always better to be quiet so as not to attract the attention of even more zombies. Plus, she's a survivor.

A Character from a Movie

John McClane
Die Hard

John McClane is a complete badass, and he's also really great at getting himself out of dire situations. What's more - he's trustworthy, which would mean a lot during a zombie apocalypse. You'll always need someone who's got your back.

A Character from a Television Show

The 10th Doctor
Doctor Who

Because he's clever. And, TARDIS or not, if you ever find yourself needing to make a near-impossible escape, this is the guy/alien you'd want by your side.

A Loved One

My Brother Martin

Because it's always good to have a paramedic around.

A Friend

My friend Olga

Because I would miss our conversations. And I'd need someone to keep me sane.

A Freebie

Dean Winchester

Pfffttt....like I was really gonna leave him out of this? Dean Winchester can kick some major ass, and he's insanely loyal.

1 Comfort Item
Space Blanket
It can prevent hypothermia, be used for warmth or insulation, become a makeshift waterproof bag, or reflect the sun to create a signal for other survivors.

1 Weapon
Crowbar
An all-in-one weapon. It's light, efficient, and can be used to both bash-in zombie brains and pry open doors.

1 Luxury Item
A 3L Bottle of Jack
Might as well go big...it can be used as a disinfectant, but I can also drink it. So yes.

1 Food Item
Soylent
It provides complete nutrition, which would be a rare thing in a world where you'd pretty much have to take what you can get when it comes to food.

1 Medicine/First Aid Item
Penicillin
Because why would I wanna make it through a zombie apocalypse only to die from a stupid wound infection?!

1 Hygiene Item
Hand Sanitizer
A simple and effective way to kill germs without having to waste my water supply.

1 Freebie
LifeSaver Water Bottle
Because water is a precious resource, and this would be one of the best ways of converting water sources you normally wouldn't touch with a ten-foot-pole into viable drinking reservoirs.

Outpost
A small town somewhere in the middle of Texas, because Texas is bad-ass. And it'll be easier to find guns and ammo.

Outbreak
It probably started in China. Because why not? China is effing huge. Plus, the large population combined with globalization would ensure that the virus spreads quickly and efficiently. It's everywhere now.

Cause
I'm gonna say it'll probably be because of the money-hungry pharmaceutical industry. And bad hygiene. I can easily imagine some poor rotting corpse, pumped full of who knows what kind of drugs, causing some unsuspecting scavenger munching off of it (a rat, wild dog, etc.) to become a host to some freaky new strain of virus, that leads to re-animated (and hungry!) corpses once it mutates and carries over into humans.

Cure (if applicable)
Nope, there isn't one. The zombies may eventually rot away to extinction, but you'd have to survive long enough to see it happen. Sorry humanity, you did this to yourselves. Greedy bastards.

1 Item You NEED To Find
A silencer, because it would minimize the amount of nearby walkers that would hear you on that zombie killing spree you go on once you find some guns.

1 Item You WANT To Find
A cure. But you won't find it, because as I said, there isn't one. Sorry. You could continue to hope, though.

Method of Travel

Anything and everything...car, horse, feet, motorcycle, boat...it would depend on the situation, but I'd be inclined to use any and all available resources.