Bout of Books 12 | Day Seven Wrap-up and The End

I had so much fun this time around. Bout of Books is always a ton of fun, the twitter chats especially, but this time around there was a lot more making funs (and swapping of spreadsheets, because: #booknerdWIN. Guys. Seriously). Anyway, besides inside twitter jokes, I just had a lot of fun.

I didn't get as much reading done as I have previously or would of liked, but I've been expecting to slow down a bit after everything. And I'd like to read more book books this year and less comics/trades/graphic novels - you know. So I think I'm okay slowing a bit, though I'm still going to try and get through my backlog/keep up with favorite series.

I'm really, really trying to get through my physical TBR of way too many books. So I'm honestly trying to work on not buying books, but it's hard. So very hard. (Hello, my name is Casey. I haven't bought a book since December 31st - book buyers anonymous, anyone?)

Anyway - this isn't about the books I can't buy. It's about books I've already read. So shall we?

I didn't, actually, end up reading anything on the last day. I felt so hungover from the awesomeness that was The Way of Shadows, and I just wasn't feeling like reading. And I've learned, if I'm not feeling like reading, then not to push it, because it won't end well for anyone.

Total Number of Books Completed: 8

Total Number of Pages Read: 2, 310

Everything Read (Books/Comics/Unfinished):
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff (3/5)
The Truth is the Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman (4/5)
The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry (3/5)
Ouran High School Host Club, Volume 1 by Bisco Hatori (5/5)
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix (4/5)
Ouran High School Host Clob, Volume 2 by Bisco Hatori (5/5)
Wayward #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 by Jim Zub (5/5)
Baltimore: The Wolf and The Apostle #1, #2 by Mike Mignola (3/5)
The Wicked and the Divine #6 by Kieron Gillen (5/5)
East of West #16 by Jonathan Hickman (5/5)
Lock In by John Scalzi (5/5)
The Way of Shadows (Night Angel #1) by Brent Weeks (5/5)

Notes/Thoughts:
I wasn't, honestly, completely happy with everything I read this week. And not content matter, although there were some things that I ended up not enjoying as much as I expected. I just didn't read as much as I'd hoped, I wasn't in a reading mood for a lot of the week.

On the other hand, I did get some reading done and I read some really good thinks (The Way of Shadows, probably being the best). And I had a ton of fun on twitter, during the chats and in the normally hour or so after them.

I hope you all had a great week and a great reading week, whether you took part or not. What are you currently reading?

(And - Bout of Books 13 in May! See you there?)

Bout of Books blog
Kick-Off Post
Announcement Post
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up
Day Five Wrap-Up
Day Six Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 12 | Day Five Wrap-Up

Another day, more reading. Once again, I didn't read as much as I'd like. Life happens, I guess. But I'd officially like for my eye strain to go away because ow. Also for all life problems to go away, as well, that'd be great.

Number of Books Completed Today: 0

Total Number of Books Completed: 6

Books:
Lock In by John Scalzi (continued - 128 pages)

Comics:
Baltimore: The Wolf and The Apostle #1, #2 by Mike Mignola (s&f - 60 pages)
The Wicked and the Divine #6 by Kieron Gillen (s&f - 32 pages)
East of West #16 by Jonathan Hickman (s&f - 31 pages)
Wayward #5 by Jim Zub (s&f - 30 pages)

Number of Pages Read: 281

Total Number of Pages Read: 1,693

Notes/Thoughts:
Baltimore was... interesting? Strange, but interesting(also wasn't on GR, so I guestimated page count). However - all the rest of the single issues I read, I'd been waiting on and ugh, they were all so good. So freaking good. East of West is that, like, western futuristic setting? With the four horsemen of the apocalypse and it's fucking awesome (excuse the language, but I love this series). And you've probably heard of The Wicked and The Divine.

However - I haven't heard anyone talk about Wayward. Which takes place in modern Tokyo, where all the japanese mythological creatures seem to be... waking up? Coming out more to play? And this is one series I'd suggest getting the single issues, instead of the trade, and that's because the trade isn't going to include the essays that in the back of each issue about the mythological creatures and one about modern Japan school kids. It's all pretty awesome, the colors and everything are gorgeous, and I'll be impatiently waiting for it to start back up again now.

And I'm really enjoying Lock In, digging deeper into it and it's good. Of course, it's Scalzi.

Bout of Books blog
Kick-Off Post
Announcement Post
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up
Day Four Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 12 | Day Four Wrap-Up

Reading, and really doing anything, with eyestrain - is difficult. And it always surprises me with just how difficult. I should probably stop scrolling through my phone in the dark when I can't sleep. So I probably read the least I have all week, but I'm still really happy with what I read. I made progress in The Way of Shadows, and I'm really enjoying that book so far and I"m glad I picked it up.

Number of Books Completed Today: 0

Total Number of Books Completed: 6

Books:
Wayward #1, #2, #3, & #4 by Jim Zub and more  (started and completed all - about 100 pages)
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks (continued - 146)
Lock In by John Scalzi (started - 50 pages)

Number of Pages Read: 296

Total Number of Pages Read: 1,412

Notes/Thoughts:
I estimated for the comics, going by goodreads (which had page counts for 2/4), and I estimated low. I'm really liking that series so far, it's really good and very interesting. I'd suggest getting the single issues for the japan mythology essays in the back.

I'm really loving The Way of Shadows so far, it's just so good. And I'm not sure why? I was a little wary starting it, because I had kind of high hopes for it (because of the GR ratings), but I have not been disappointed so far, about 30% into it.

Hopefully, I can get a bit more read tomorrow! Also, I'm going between listening to Lock In and reading (Wil Wheaton narration. I love Amber Benson, but I love Wil's narration), because of eyes.

Bout of Books blog
Kick-Off Post
Announcement Post
Day One Wrap-Up
Day Two Wrap-Up
Day Three Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 12 | Day One Wrap-Up

I was going to say that day one didn't get off on the right foot that I wanted, but I never get as much read as I want on days where there's chats (and livestreams of one of my favorite podcasts being broadcast). And I did read three books, just all of them were very short reads. And I'd like to, at least, read something tomorrow that is more then two hundred pages, if not more.

I also didn't get to start any of the Ouran volumes. I want back and forth on if I wanted to read them for this read-a-thon, but I think I'm going to take it slower then just reading them all in three sittings (all eighteen volumes). I'd rather take it slow, because there's nothing else after this and that's kind of sad.

Number of Books Read: 3

Books:
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff (started and finished - 169 pages)
The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman (s&f - 74 pages)
The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry (s&f - 91)

Number of Pages Read: 334

Notes/Thoughts:
I read the first two and half of these at about 4-6 am when insomnia was keeping me awake against my will. Which is so common, I barely even think it strange anymore. I'll be talking more about each specific books in my weekly wrap up on Monday, but after those first three I just didn't feel in the mood to read for some reason.

I think because, while none of them were bad, none of them were really, really good, either. Or even really good, which was kind of what I was hoping for. So, instead of pushing it - I took part in the chat on Twitter (one of my favorite parts of this read-a-thon), and then caught up on some YT videos, and eventually remembered to eat something (this is too common, maybe I should make a schedule, schedule thing).

Challenges:
I did the #BoBScavengerHunt and posted it over on my instagram. I love the scavenger hunt things, when I remember to do them (most of the times, I forget. I don't know how I do, I just do).

And I am partially ashamed about how long it took me to realize Cassandra Clare has the same initials as me - she's pretty well known author, I read a bunch of her books in 2014, and I have almost accidentally emailed her a billion zillion times because of the fact our names are so similar.

Bout of Books blog
Kick-Off Post
Announcement Post

Bout of Books 12 | Kick-off (Starts today)

It's the first official day of the Bout of Books 12 read-a-thon. My announcement book went up on December 22nd (link), and if you're confused as what the hell I"m talking about - the Bout of Books blog should answer all of your questions. Basically - it's a week long read-a-thon that, this time, is taking place between January fifth (today) and through January 11th.

This is my favorite read-a-thon of the year, and it happens multiple times a year. This time around, they aren't doing a specific goal post to link up to, but you can set your own goals. From what was said, it seems like they want to promote people from stop saying they're failing the read-a-thon, which I think is good. It's fun, even if you can't read a ton, just read or just interact with people on twitter/their blog. Flailing, not failing! You should join if it sound interesting, though I'm sure most of you know what BoB is, if you've ever read my blog before.

Onto my own goals, because I do have some. They aren't very big or specific, but I like this Bout of Books specifically, also, because it's at the beginning of the year and gives me the chance to jumpstart my reading for the year.

• Read. As much as I can. I'd like to finish a book a day, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself because I have no idea what's going to be happening this week, but I love trying to do the equivalent of one book a day (at least).
• Have fun. This is very important for this read-a-thon and, if I'm not putting pressure on myself, very easy to achieve. 
• Visit blogs, leave comments, and take part in the twitter chats. I always end up getting so distracted by the reading, which definitely isn't a bad thing, but I'd also really love to make it a point to comment on a few (at least) blogs a day. I always remember to visit some, but commenting I tend to not be able to do at the time and then forget to go back (or just second guess myself). So I want to make that a point. And, if you haven't heard of the twitter chats, you should join one - they're a ton of fun and you'll walk away with new blogs to follow and probably a lot of book recommendations and a smile.

I think that's it, I'm never very specific on my goals for Bout of Books - just read, read, read, and then some others. Normally, I'd add a TBR that was about 80% guess and normally 95% wrong, so I'm not going to bother this time around. I'll be posting daily updates here, though, like normal. (today is day one, that wrap up with go up tomorrow. And then day twos wrap up will go up on day three. And so on).

However, if you do not want to wait that long, or are just curious as to what I picked up first: twitter, instagram, Goodreads. If you're participating, let me know in the comments (with a link to your blog/whatever you're updating on). 

And I wish you good books and flailing.