The Reading Rush 2019 Wrap Up

How did I do?!? Well, let's see....

(Reading Rush: 6/22-6/28/19)

Challenges:
✔1. Read a book with purple on the cover:
  At The Drop of a Hat (A Hat Shop Mystery #3) by Jenn McKinlay (My Thoughts Linked)

✔2. Read a book in the same spot for the entire time:
Spongebob Goes to the Doctor * (Summary of Book Linked)

✔3. Read a book you meant to read last year: If Not For You by Debbie Macomber
✔4. Read an author's first book:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Thoughts Linked)
✔5. Read a book with a non-human main character:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
✔6. Pick a book that has five or more words in the title:
At The Drop of a Hat (A Hat Shop Mystery #3) by Jenn McKinlay
✔7. Read and watch a book to movie adaptation:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

✔8.  Read a 5 Star Book:
        I Can Read With My Eyes Closed by Dr. Seuss* (Summary of Book Linked)

✔9. Read over 1,000 pages: 1,243 pages

✔10. Read 7 Books:  If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss*

✔11. Read a book during a Reading Sprint:
       Follow The Drinking Gourd: Come Along the Underground Railroad by Wim Coleman
❌12. Made a Reading Rush booktube video
❌13. Go to a read-in

BTW here is my reading rush name: @bridgetsbookramblings

Not sure if we can add each other after it's over but we can try I guess. :o)

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I read a total of 9 books which is a lot more than I was going for. Even with the children's/picture books. I had only planned on doing a couple books because I was expecting to have to sit and read but I got the audio for one, had an audio for another already so that got me through 3 novels. One, I had an audio for, the other I thought I would have to sit and read. Which I did sit and read most of it but realized I could still use the online system at my library even if I owe more than their minimum to check out books ($10 or more you can't check out physical books and I owe well over that right now but plan on trying to pay it off soon). Not sure how long they've been doing that but when I realized that this week, I was so extremely grateful! So, that allowed me to pick up If Not For You by Debbie Macomber and get it read in about 24 hours, maybe a little over. As well as getting the e-books of all the children's books. One of them was the Cinderella story from the Grimm's Fairy Tales collection...That I actually loved a lot more than the Disney version.

So, some of those pages read, were from books that I may have started and put down (i.e.-The Book Thief) because I felt like I wouldn't have been able to get much done before the end of the week and needed more attention and not rushed through. Then, on Sunday, when I finished reading the last two children's books and the Debbie Macomber book, I just said I would focus on Goldie: a lotus grows in the mud. I finally laid down to go to sleep...I don't even know when...maybe, some time in the afternoon...but I know I didn't wake back up until around 10:30 PM est (I sleep a lot when my body is trying to heal from whatever it is dealing with). 

I really did enjoy doing this readathon this week. So much so that when it came close to ending, I didn't want it to end! I even went over a bit and did a live Instagram reading sprint with Ariel & Raeleen well after the readathon was over for the east coast. That allowed me to get a little further into my Goldie Hawn book as well.

Now, to prepare for the N.E.W.T.'s (blog linked) in August. I think I am pretty much together but I know how I am. I think I have it all together or close to it and then start scrambling again the day before or the day of..lol..But I am hoping to have a lot of fun like I did with the O.W.L.'s (wrap up linked)

Happy Reading!

Bridget

(keep scrolling a bit)

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-Spongebob Goes to the Doctor*: 4/5
I didn't do a review for this one but it was typical Spongebob & Patrick antics. It was still cute.

-I Can Read With My Eyes Closed by Dr. Seuss 5/5 I didn't do much of a review on this book but I did give some thoughts on Goodreads. I enjoyed it of course and don'tever remember reading it or having it read to me when I was younger. I remember a lot of Dr. Seuss books being read to me when I was younger but not sure which beyond "ABC" and I think "1 Fish 2 Fish.."

- If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss 3/5
I didn't do a review on this one


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Seasonal Challenge: Summer 2019 Wrap Up

How did I do? 

Well, let's see:

Dates the Challenge took place: 6/1/19-8/31/19
Finished: 7/28/19

✅F-Follow The Drinking Gourd (by Wim Coleman) (Summary Linked)
✅A-Angel Fever
✅I- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie* (Summary Linked)
✅R-The Reptile Room (Series of Unfortunate Events #2) 

✅B-Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
✅E-Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
✅A-At the Drop of a Hat
✅C- Cinderella (Grimm's Fairy Tales version) {Did my thoughts on Goodreads. Which is linked}
✅H- P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

(Thoughts are linked unless otherwise stated)

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*If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: Didn't do a review for
this one but of course, I thought it was a cute little read as I always have. I remember reading this book to my sons when they were little. This was a 5/5 for me of course.

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If Not For You (New Beginnings #3) by Debbie Macomber

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📍Series: #3 
📍Release Date: August 22, 2017
📍Format:  Mass Market Paperback
📍Setting: Portland, Oregon 
📍Page Count: 448
📍Genre(s): Romance, Fiction, Chick-Lit, Contemporary
📍Date(s) Read:  7/27-7/28/19
📍Rating:   Book:  4.75/5  Audio:  5/5  Narrator(s): Khristine Hvam

☼The Reading Rush:
   a Book you meant to read last year

My Rambles:

I don't remember if I knew this was a part of a companion series when I picked this book up but either way, it's fairly easy to know what's going on because they give some idea of the couple of the previous book. I do plan on getting the other book when I can. It may be a while because I still have a lot of books to read but if I am in the mood quicker than expected, I can always check my local library. 

My thoughts?

I read this book for the Reading Rush and so glad I did. I wasn't sure if I'd finish this book before the end of the readathon but I started sometime after midnight on day six and finished it sometime after 1 am on day seven! This is no small book at 448 pages!

I so loved the characters! The main character Beth and her love interest Sam, I adored but I think the one I loved most, was Sunshine, Beth's aunt. Yes, she is what her name suggests! The sweet, hippie older woman with wisdom and sense that her age is supposed to have.

Naturally, there was the angst, the 'drama' and all around feels! With the endings you expect and possibly even hope for. You love the ones you're supposed to love and dislike the ones you're supposed to dislike.

Growth.

Change.

Love.

Second chances (maybe even third or fourth chances).

All things that Debbie Macomber seems to know how to write and throwing her faith into it without making it overbearing. I am a believer, yet, when I am reading fiction, I don't want to be preached to, I can watch my favorite pastor for that and read my bible. And I believe Ms. Macomber balances it out perfectly in her books and mixed with her writing style, I see why she is so well loved!

Follow the Drinking Gourd: Come Along the Underground Railroad by Wim Coleman

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📍Stand-Alone: 
📍Release Date: (First Published) 1988
📍Format: e-book
📍Setting: USA
📍Page Count: 40
📍Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Children's, Picture Book
📍Date(s) Read: 7/26/19
📍Rating:   Book:  4.5/5

The Reading Rush:
-Read it during a Reading Sprint so I got a badge for it. 

My Rambles:

I enjoyed the book. I wasn't expecting it to be written in 'dramatization' form. It is told by a brother and sister in their older years, speaking of what they dealt with when they ran away when they were younger. Once I got used to it, I began to get more into it. It's not that it was bad, but it just wasn't expecting how it was written as I said before. There isn't much I can say about this book really beyond my really enjoying it. 

This book I borrowed from my local library on Hoopla. Hopefully you can find it in your area. But you have to make sure you look for the one by Wim Coleman if you want this particular one. There is at least one other "Follow the Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter. I really do wish I could find pictures to add to this beyond the cover but couldn't find the right ones for this book. 

At the Drop of a Hat (Hat Shop Mystery #3) by Jenn McKinlay

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📍Series: #3
📍Release Date: February 3, 2015 
📍Format: Mass Market Paperback
📍Setting: London, England
📍Page Count: 281
📍Genre(s): Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Romance
📍Date(s) Read: 7/22/19-7/26/19
📍Rating:   Book:   4.5/5   Audio:  4.5 /5    Narrator(s): Karyn O'Bryan

☼The Reading Rush: Purple on the Cover
The rug and chair are purple on the cover. I think it could be debatable whether it's blue or purple but I counted it as purple!


My Rambles:
(another situation that I typed this out as I was listening to the book, which some parts may be kind of obvious)

I read the first 102 pages on my own then went to hoopla and found an audio book for it. I am surprised I could get it because I owe my library money (Which I plan on paying off within the next week). I am not complaining though. It helped me to get through the book a bit faster because I am a bit of a slow reader when I do sit down to read. But, having the audio, allowed me to be on the computer or doing other things and listen to the book if I chose to do so. 

Now, onto what I thought about the book...

As this is the third in the series, I won't give away too much although these are more companion'ish than actual same story type of series (i.e.-Twilight, Shadowhunters, etc). I do love the main character, he cousin, Viv, and a young woman who works with them in their Hat Shop in London, Fee. And the love interest of one of them, I adore too. Even some of the other side characters I really love.Especially Andre and Nick! They are hilarious! 

*Gasps* 

That....

Daggone..... (trying not to curse here)

Ending!

Oh!

The Cliffhangers!

I need to tear up my room trying to make sure I have the next in the series! I will be beyond upset with myself if I don't have it! Even if I don't get to it right away, I at least need to have it at the ready when I am wanting to get to it! Thank God it's already out and I don't have to wait a year! *Sighs*

(Okay, maybe I won't tear up the room too much but I will be doing some serious searching for that book!)
                                   
Ahem..Okay, now that the dramatics are over...Let me get myself together and  carry on....

Anyone who knows anything about cozy mysteries, they are usually pretty tame when it comes to the mystery aspect of it all. Not very detailed on the gruesomeness which is one thing I like about this. I also like that they focus on the lives of the sleuth(s) in each book with some romance thrown in (at least the ones I have read so far. There was one that didn't really have one that I remember but it's been a little bit since I've read it).

This is the 2nd series I have been able to enjoy by Jenn McKinlay, the first & my favorite being, Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. I tried her Library Lovers series but I just couldn't get into it. I loved the characters and everything but there was just something not allowing me to really love it. I'd get bored and frustrated with it. To this day, I don't know why. I may try again one day. I do love her writing though. I've tried to read one of her romances but couldn't get into it at the time. I may try to rent it from the library one day, especially if I can find the audio book. I do own the next couple of books in this one I think. Which I just realized I didn't have the sixth book. 



Happy Reading,

Bridget 💜

(notice the chair & rug)

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (H.P. # 1) by J.K. Rowling

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📍Series: #1
📍Release Date: June 26, 1997
📍Format: Paperback
📍Setting: England; Hogwarts
📍Page Count: 309
📍Genre(s): Middle Grade; Fantasy; Magic
📍Date(s) Read: 7/22/19-7/25/19
📍Rating:   Book:  4/5   Audio:  5/5     Narrator(s): Jim Dale

☼Re-read
☼The Reading Rush:
   1. Debut Novel 
   2. Book to Movie adaptation
   3. Nonhuman Character
☼2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge: 
   Debut Novel

◙Thoughts from 2017: Sorcerer's Stone


My Rambles:

This was one of my favorites in the series. It's amazing how much I forgotten about the first time I listened to it or, maybe I just zoned out during certain parts while listening. Although I really did enjoy it this time as well, I don't know if I enjoyed it as much as the first time. Not a whole lot has changed since the first time I listened to it except the rating of the book itself. I still love Jim Dale's narration. I re-read this for The Reading Rush for the debut novel because it was one I could find the audio book for quickly and get through quicker. Seeing that I have already seen the movie, I can sit through it as I clean or do something else but I may try to wait until I get at least one more thing done before trying to watch it to make sure it gets done. Well, there isn't much more I can say that I probably haven't already said before. You can click on the link above to see my thoughts last time. 

 

N.E.W.T.'s Magical Readathon 2019

Get you a drink (possibly a butterbeer), a snack (chocolate frog or two..maybe? something else?) and prepare to do some reading! I got long winded with this one! (Or, you can just get some plain old Muggle treats and relax in a normal old muggle chair, bed or couch) 🤦‍♀️😂

                                     ***************************************

Okay, this is going to be hard for me to explain in a blog. During the O.W.L's, I think I did a video for my announcement video and just did the wrap up for it here. So, I am not quite sure how to set this up. I will definitely share the video announcement by Book Roast (her channel linked) towards the end of this blog. If you want to see and/or print out the list of careers, etc, they will be in her description. I will post what I can and print screen some things. Whatever is print screened, know that ALL CREDIT goes to Book Roast, as she is the creator of the O.W.L.'s & N.E.W.T.'s readathons, Guidebooks, Prompts, Letter, etc.

Now, to participate in the N.E.W.T.'s, you have to have passed the O.W.L.'s that took place in April. You could have done the make up's between then and July if you wanted to participate in August. Or, you can just do O.W.L.'s in August and N.E.W.T.'s in September I guess (but I would comment on her video to make sure that is okay but I don't see why it wouldn't be but hey, it's her readathons, so her rules! lol)

But, okay, now that I got that out the way a little bit....

On to what career(s) I ended up choosing...well, after a little explanation on how I made my decision.

I wanted to do either Healer or Herbologist but I think I had to pass Ancient Runes during the O.W.L.'s for at least one and I didn't do that one because I didn't have any retellings. Well, I did at the time I think but I had already read that book and didn't like it well enough to reread it. Or, they were a bit too many prompts I would have had to do and I wanted to relax and not over do it with this readathon. If I get past one of the careers, I will try to go for the second, if I get those done, I may try for others. I will take it bit by bit. I also reserve the right to change my mind about my careers before, during, and after the readathon is over! lol...

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So, I did two other choices & O.W.L.'s linked below:

Wrap Up blog: O.W.L.'s Magical Readathon

(P.S.A.: All books given under each prompt are just options and subject to change at any given moment because I am a mood reader and/or I just don't like the book!)

1. Magizoologist:
☼O.W.L.'s had to pass:
✔1. Care of Magical Creatures
✔2. Charms
✔3. Herbology
✔4. Potions

N.E.W.T.'s I need to pass:
"O" in Care of Magical Creatures: Grab onto Fawke's Tail! Read a book with a bird on the cover
(Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee)
"E" in Charms: Read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or a book under 150 pages)
(Animal Farm by George Orwell)
"E" in Herbology: Read a book between 350-390 pages
(A Different Sun by Elaine Neil Orr or The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper)

                     ****************************************

2. Journalist/Writer:
☼O.W.L.'s had to pass:
✔1. History of Magic
✔2. Muggle Studies
✔3. One subject of your picking

N.E.W.T.'s I need to pass:
1. "E" in History of Magic: Read a book that Includes a map
(Red River by Lalita Tademy....on page 25, there's a type of map on that page)
2. "A" Muggle Studies: a cover that includes an actual photo element (person, place, item, etc)
(Every Breath You Take  by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke..female on the cover. It may be a drawn picture but it's still a person. And this is the 5th book in a companion series. It's different cases but has the same "main characters" in the book)
3. "A" in One More of Your Choice: Arithmancy: Book ends on an even page number
(Marked Down For Murder (#4) by Josie Belle (Jenn McKinlay pseudonym).....This ends on page 258..260 with questions)

                               ====================================

I put them in the order I plan on taking a shot at them. I like having options so that I don't get frustrated with trying to read books I may not like or be in the mood for. Hopefully I will be able to have a bit more options at the start of the readathon or soon after it starts, but that depends on if my wallet allows that or not..lol... At the same time though, I'd like to get more books off of my physical shelf but I still have some wiggle room with series I want to finish but need to get the books for.

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So, here are the pictures of the books: Just keep scrolling (Imagine Dory from Finding Nemo singing that! That's what I hear in my head when I typed it anyway! lol)

 

 

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The proof of just how much work she put into all of this! And this is just a couple of pages! 

                                   (Make sure you keep scrolling after the pictures)

                                                                    Journalist/Writer:

Mazoologist: 

                                     ====================================

You may not be able to exactly read everything on the career sheets but it gives you an idea of what they look like and what I plan on trying to do. If anything changes, then it will all be in the wrap up at the end of the readathon. 

If you want further details, Book Roasts video is below and you can click on all necessary links in her description. Print out what you want to print out and click on explanation links and so on because she can of course explain everything better than I ever can in this blog. 

Thank you so much if you read this in it's entirety all the way to the end. If you are participating in the N.E.W.T.'s in August, I hope for the best in all that you are going to be working to accomplish and have a lot of fun doing it! 

Happy Reading! 

Bridget (#Hufflepuff)

P.S. I am a mother to a Slytherin & a Hufflepuff

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Book Roast's Video