2019 Year In Review

                         

Happy New Year (& Decade)! 🍻 #2020 🎉🎊
                       (That's root beer BTW 😂)

Personal Reading Challenge:

Goal:95**

Completed: 96
1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (H.P. #7) by J.K. Rowling 
2.Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

3.Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (H.P. #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

4. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

5. Snow White by Brothers Grimm
6. Twilight (#1) by Stephenie Meyer**
7. Fox In Socks by Dr. Seuss
8. Shadowlands (#1) by Kate Brian
9. A Deal to Die For (Good Buy Girls Mystery #2)by Josie Belle
10. A Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map To Freedom by Bettye Stroud & Erin Bennett (Illustrator)
11. The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
12. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
13. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
14. The Taking by Dean Koontz
15. The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare**

16. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

17. The Star Money by Jacob & Willhelm Grimm

18. Love, Life & the List by Kasie West

19. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen 

20. Green Eggs & Ham by P.D. Eastman
21. Richie Rich: Poor Little Rich Kid (Harvey Comics)

22. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

23. Angel Fire (Angel #2) by L.A. Weatherly
24. The Moon & More by Sarah Dessen

25. High Hopes for Abby by Connie Rose Porter
26. Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
27. The Whole Town's Talking (Elmwood Springs #4) by Fannie Flagg
28. The Sleeping Beauty Killer by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
29. Fame, Fate & the First Kiss by Kasie West
30. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
31. Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls #3) by Josie Belle
32. Perfect Chemistry (P.C. #1) by Simone Elkeles
33. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff (Illustrator: Felicia Bond)
34. Dying for Devil's Food(Cupcake Bakery Mystery #11)by Jenn McKinlay
35. Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West
36. Once & For All by Sarah Dessen
37. The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) by Lemony Snicket
38. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
39. Whose Boat is This? Comments That Don't Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane by the Staff of the Late Show with Steven Colbert
40. Everything Great About President Trump: Literally Everything (Blank Books, LLC)
41. P.S. I Still Love You (#2) by Jenny Han
42. Angel Fever (#3) by L. A. Weatherly
43. Listen To Your Heart by Kasie West
44. Mistborn (#1) by Brandon Sanderson
45. Spongebob Goes to the Doctor by Stephen Banks; Zina Suanders (Illustrator)
46. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)  by J.K. Rowling**
47. Follow the Drinking Gourd by Wim Coleman
48. At the Drop of a Hat (#3) by Jenn McKinlay
49. I Can Read With My Eyes Closed by Dr. Seuss
50. If Not For You (New Beginnings #5) by Debbie Macomber
51. If I Ran the Circus by  Dr. Seuss
52. Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
53. Cinderella (Grimm's Fairy Tale Collection) by the Grimm Brothers
54. Splat by Jon Burgerman
55. Every Breath You Take (Under Suspicion #5) by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
56. Archie #635: Occupy Riverdale by Alex Seguar
57. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
58. Hansel and Gretel by Brother's Grimm (Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales)
59. Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4) by Stephenie Meyer
60. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend
61. Short & Skinny by Mark Tatulli
62. Copy Cap Murder (Hat Shopy Mystery #4) by Jenn McKinlay
63.The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare
64. Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss 
65. Assault & Beret (Hat Shopy Mystery #5) by Jenn McKinlay
66. You Don't Own Me (Under Suspicion #5) by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke
67. Twilight (Graphic Novel Vol. 1) by Stephenie Meyer (Adapted by Young Kim)
68. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #2) by Jessica Townsend
69. Dead & Breakfast (A Merry Ghost Inn #1) by Kate Kingsbury 
70. Maybe This Time by Kasie West
71. Becoming by Michelle Obama
72. Goldie: A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn
73. Tell the Wind & Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
74. Eclair & Present Danger (An Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery #1) by Laura Bradford
75. A Doom with a View (A Merry Ghost Inn #2) by Kate Kingsbury 
76. Always & Forever, Laura Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved before 
77. Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
78. Cast Long Shadows (Ghosts of the Shadow Market #1) by Cassandra Clare
79. Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
80. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
81. Can You Stand to Be Blessed by T.D. Jakes
82. The Donkey Cabbages by Brother's Grimm (Grimm's Complete Collection bind up)
83. Everything, Everything by Nichola Yoon
84. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
85. Poppy the Pirate Dog's New Shipmate by Liz Kessler
86. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
87. Hocus Pocus, It's Fall by Anne Sibley O'Brien               
88. Poppy the Pirate Dog by Liz Kessler
89. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
90. The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey
91. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
92. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (illustrated by Bryan Collier)
93. The Red Hen by Rebecca Embereley (Illustrated by Eric Emberelly)
94. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
95. A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo (Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen)
96. Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make Room For Happiness by Gretchen Rubin

** Re-reads
**Whenever I would reach my goal, I would up it by 5-10 books 

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Big Book Challenge: 
Goal: 3
Achieved: 16 
Total Page Count: 8,641

1. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (H.P. #7) by J.K. Rowling (759 pages)
2. Twilight (#1) by Stephenie Meyer (498 pages)
3. The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick (425 pages)
4. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen (417 pages)

5. Angel Fire (Angel #3) by L.A. Weatherly (638 pages)

6. The Moon & More by Sarah Dessen (435 pages)

7. Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth (526 pages)

8. The Whole Town's Talking (Elmwood Springs #4) by Fannie Flagg (535 pages)

9. Angel Fire (Angel #3) by L.A. Weatherly (489 pages)

10. Mistborn: The Final Empirer (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson (567 pages)

11. If Not For You by Debbie Macomber (448 pages)
12. Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4) by Stephenie Meyer (756 pages)
13. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend (461 pages)

14. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (#2) by Jessica Townsend (521 Pages)
15. Becoming by Michelle Obama (720 pages)
16. Goldie: A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn (446 pages) 

Favorites of 2019:
1. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin 
2. Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss 
3. Snow White by Brothers Grimm 
4. Shadowlands (#1) by Kate Brian 
5. A Patchwork Path: a Quilt to Freedom by Bettye Stroud & Erin S. Bennett (Illustrator) 
6. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
7. The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare
8. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman 
9. Love, Life & the List by Kasie West 
10. Richie Rich: Poor Little Rich Kid (Harvey Comics)
11. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss 
12. Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss 
13. Nevermoor: the Trials of Morrigan Crow (#1) by Jessica Townsend 
14. Short and Skinny by Mark Tatulli 
15. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (#2) by Jessica Townsend 
16. Hocus Pocus, It's Fall by Anne Sibley O'Brien 
17. The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey

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2019 Read-A-Thons & Challenges (i.e.-Seasonal challenges):
(All blogs are linked in each)

☼Rereadathon 2019 
☼Spring Into Readingathon
☼March Mystery Madness 2019
☼Booklist Readathon
☼Tome Topple & Audiobookathon Wrap Up 

☼O.W.L.s Magical Readathon

☼Finish a Series Readathon & Chicklitathon 

☼Seasonal Challenge: Spring 2019  
☼Golden Girls Readathon  

☼Seasonal Challenge: Summer 2019
☼The Reading Rush 2019
☼N.E.W.T.'s Magical Readathon 2019
☼Nameathon
☼Contemporary-athon
☼Trick-Or-Treat-athon
☼ Non-Fiction November & Believeathon
☼Seasonal Challenge: Autumn (Wrap Up) + Winter Seasonal Challenge 2019-2020

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2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge:

1. A book becoming a movie in 2019
2. A book that makes you nostalgic: Fox In Socks by Dr. Seuss
3. A book written by a musician
4. A book you think should be turned into a movie: The Taking by Dean Koontz
5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: H.P. & the Deathly Hallows (#7) by J.K. Rowling
6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: The Patchwork Path:  A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud,  Erin Susanne Bennett (Illustrator)
7. A reread of a favorite book:Twilight(#1) by Stephenie Meyer
8. A book about a hobby
9. A book you meant to read in 2018: H.P. & the Deathly Hallows (#7) by J.K. Rowling

10. A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title: Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss

11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover: A Deal to Die For (Good Buy Girls Mystery #2) by Josie Belle
12. A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore: Twilight(#1) by Stephenie Meyer
13. A book published posthumously
14. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
15. A retelling of a classic: Tell the Wind & Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
16. A book with a question in the title
17. A book set on a college or university campus
18. A book about someone with a superpower: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare
19. A book told from multiple character POVs: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
20. A book set in space
21. A book by two female authors: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan (and/or Maureen Johnson)
22. A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy": Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
23. A book set in Scandinavia
24. A book that takes place in a single day: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
25. A debut novel: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
26. A book that's published in 2019: Love, Life & the List by Kasie West
27. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: The Taking by Dean Koontz
28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Becoming by Michelle Obama (Oprah Book Club book)
29. A book with "love" in the title: Love, Life & the List by Kasie West
30. A book featuring an amateur detective
31. A book about a family:Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
32. A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America
33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title: 
34. A book that includes a wedding: H.P. & the Deathly Hallows (#7) by J.K. Rowling

35. A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane by Cassandra Clare

36. A ghost story:Dead & Breakfast by Kate Townsend
37. A book with a two-word title: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
38. A novel based on a true story
39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game
40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Advanced:

41. A "cli-fi" book
42. A "choose-your-own-adventure" book
43. An "own voices" book: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
44. Read a book during the season it is set in
45. A LitRPG book
46. A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters: Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
47. Two books that share the same title (1)
48. Two books that share the same title (2)
49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

2020 Reading Goals

These goals are just a general idea of what I want or don't want to do for my reading in 2020. Things may change a bit, be tweaked, etc. but I just want 2020 to just be relaxed & not trying to keep up with the "reading Jones's" and feel like I have to read a certain amount.

But, I digress and go on into some of my goals and challenges..

I will continue to do the 2020 Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge (goodreads link), as well as the Big Book Challenge (goodreads link), the Seasonal Challenge (Cozy Mysteries Group <~link to group) & the Goodreads Challenge. I will keep my Big Book Challenge low and won't put my Goodreads challenge very high either..Not 100% sure where I will set them in the final decision but right now, I plan on setting them between 3-5. I always have the choice to up them both if I want to of course.

I will be more focused on the QUALITY of books over the QUANTITY. A lot of that has to do with  wanting to make sure I read more books that I enjoy & not stress myself about the amount of books I've read. That will allow me to get back to my roots of reading & DNF'ing if I need to.

Before finding booktube, I think my average was about 30-40 books a year and I was fine with that I think because I read when I felt like it at the rate that was good for me (as I am a bit of a slower reader but I generally enjoyed most books I picked up). After booktube, I would try to read more, more, more! And that was good to a point, I got through quite a few books in a year that I may not have otherwise and got me reading a lot more during a week. 2019 was a great reading year for me. Including short stories (Grimm's stories) and children's books, I got over 90 books read as of me typing this up. I am grateful for the push booktube has given me but at the same time, I found myself getting into more and more slumps each year..especially in the last few months and even going into the beginning of the New Year. I don't want to continue on that route.

Plus, with all I am dealing with emotionally in my life, I want to be able to heal as I need to heal and read what I need and want to read without worrying about a reading goal. I, as a believer, also read my bible and don't want to feel like I am missing out because I am spending more time reading my bible over fiction books. If I want to read more non-fiction and take my time with that, I want to be able to take however much time I need to read non-fiction..even if it's just one book in a month and not judging myself harshly because I am not keeping up with everyone else (which is another goal I am keeping and getting deeper into, stop the comparing! We are different at the pace we read and reading is supposed to be enjoyable, not work!).

Okay...so, on to something else!

I will not feel guilty because I may not want to read those more "diverse" books everyone reads and enjoys. As a black woman, with anxiety, depression, two sons, one of which has a physical disability possibly caused by the hydrocephalus he was also born with. Yeah, my life has enough diversity to probably fill a few books lol...and I just named a few. But, if that's what others want, that's great that they are wanting to read that...but I think I allowed myself to feel guilty because I don't have much of an interest in some of those same books...at least not for the reasons some did. If I read some of those books, it's not because they are "diverse" and I seem like I am a better person because I read it..it's because I have an interest in them..regardless of whether it's diverse or not (this may trigger some but I get that vibe off of some people, they only read those kind of books because it's the "cool" thing to do and probably even deeper reasons than that on why they do it..but it's not genuine to me with some people on why they like to read more "diverse").

I'm not sure how many readathons I will be doing. I will probably look for more month long readathons, hopefully ones that don't require you do be rigid with things. Ones that may have challenges but more relaxed. Only one that may be a bit tough on how things are done that I may do is the O.W.L.'s & N.E.W.T.'s...and that's a big may.I really loved the Reading Rush 2019 so I may participate in that one even though it's only a week long, but it's so relaxed and fun that I can just do a book or two and be fine. And I loved doing the Golden Girls readathon as well...I may look to see if that is being done again in 2020.

Okay, I'm done rambling, I think. The 2020 Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge list is below for those that want to look through it.

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2020 Challenge - Regular prompts
1. A book that's published in 2020
2. A book by a trans or nonbinary author
3. A book with a great first line
4. A book about a book club
5. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
6. A bildungsroman
7. The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
8. A book with an upside-down image on the cover
9. A book with a map
10. A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
11. An anthology
12. A book that passes the Bechdel test
13. A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
14. A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
15. A book about or involving social media
16. A book that has a book on the cover
17. A medical thriller
18. A book with a made-up language
19. A book set in a country beginning with "C"
20. A book you picked because the title caught your attention
21. A book published the month of your birthday
22. A book about or by a woman in STEM
23. A book that won an award in 2019
24. A book on a subject you know nothing about
25. A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
26. A book with a pun in the title
27. A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
28. A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
29. A book with a bird on the cover
30. A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
31. A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
32. A book by a WOC
33. A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
34. A book you meant to read in 2019
35. A book with a three-word title
36. A book with a pink cover
37. A Western
38. A book by or about a journalist
39. Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Advanced prompts
1. A book written by an author in their 20s
2. A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
3. A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
4. A book set in the 1920s
5. A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
6. A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
7. A book with more than 20 letters in its title
8. A book published in the 20th century
9. A book from a series with more than 20 books
10. A book with a main character in their 20s

2019 Seasonal Challenge: Autumn Wrap Up + Winter Challenge 2019-2020

This challenge took place from September 1 - November 30, 2019

This challenge is hosted by a group on Goodreads called Cozy Mysteries Group (linked). This is my 2nd one and will be going on to the Winter Seasonal Challenge (more on that one in a bit).

I only chose one word for the Autumn Challenge because I knew that I was not really reading much and my mood for the genres I was picking up was changing. I went from reading a lot of fiction to being in the mood for nonfictioon.

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But, here is the word I chose with the books I read for each letter (and the summaries to each book will be linked)

S-Stay Sweet  by Siobhan Vivian
E-Eclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford
P-Poppy the Pirate Dog's New Shipmate by Liz Kessler
T-Tell The Wind & Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
E- Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
M-Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
B-Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
E-The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberelly
R-Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

I almost didn't finish quite a few. Thankfully, the Believeathon came along and that I participated in it. That made it a lot easier to find books that I needed to fill the last four (that's why it's all picture/children's books).

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Now, on to the Winter Seasonal challenge that Started today (12/1/2019) and goes through February 29, 2020. I only chose one word for this one as well because if I stay on this path of reading mostly Non-Fiction, I may only be able to complete that one word because it takes me time to finish non-fiction, even shorter books. A lot of it is because I may take notes, annotate (usually with sticky notes with the last couple of books I have. Plus, if I reread in the future, that allows me to add to those notes that I already have).

Anyway, I didn't mean to get on that.

Winter Seasonal Challenge word:

A.N.G.E.L.

So, I guess we'll see how I do by the end of February.

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Books for Autumn Seasonal Challenge

 

 

 

 

Non Fiction November & Believeathon Wrap Up

Non-Fiction November Prompts:
✅1. Design: The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey
 (pages are beautiful) (My thoughts linked above. From goodreads)

❌2. Sport:

✅3. True: The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey 
(Speaking their various truths, on different topics of the book & about how they see different things in their lives and the changes they made

✅4. Voice: The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey
(From interviews on Super Soul Sundays/Conversations)

 I read/listened to other books but didn't finish them. Some of the reason is because I didn't read everyday because one or two books were on audio. One of them that were on audio, he is such a quiet spoken man that I had to concentrate and I kept having to go back some, even started over once..so I am not that far in. All, I just took my time with. Plus, my ears started bothering me so I had to go a bit without listening. And, I have been taking notes as well. One of those books is The Power of Now (summary linked) by Eckhart Tolle (audio). I will continue on until I finish the book. I did buy it so I could "annotate" the book. So, I'm glad that the Believeathon took place last month as well. I feel like I actually accomplished something and gave me the push I needed to get to some picture books I've been wanting to read for a while and even a couple that came out this year. Whenever possible, I will be buying The Wisdom of Sundays (summary linked) as well. It is one of my favorites this year. 

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Believeathon Prompts:
✅1. Read a book featuring magic: Hocus Pocus, it's Fall by Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrated by Susan Gal)**
❌2.Read a book featuring a myth or legend:
✅3. Read a book with real life issues: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
✅4. Read a book set in the past: Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson 
❌5. Read a book with a strong sense of friendship:
❌6. Read an atmospheric or creepy book:
✅7. Read a seasonal book: Hocus Pocus, it's Fall by Anne Sibley O'Brien
✅8. Read a book with an animal character: Poppy the Pirate Dog's Shipmate by Liz Kessler
✅9. Read a classic children's story: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
✅10. Re-read your personal childhood favorite: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Illustrated by Clement Hurd) [This one was my younger son's favorite book when he was little, I've already read some of my favorites for readathons this year, didn't want to re-read those again]

Bonus Book(s):
►Poppy the Pirate Dog by Liz Kessler
►Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
►Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
►The Red Hen by Rebecca Embereley
►Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

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More Thoughts:
**Hocus Pocus, It's Fall: I counted this book for the "magic words" in the title and at least a time or two throughout the book. So, yes, I kind of pushed it with that one. lol

**I read mostly children's books over middle grade because I still just was not in much of a mood for longer novels/fiction & the children's books were easier to sit and read for me. Plus, I just really enjoyed them so I'm glad I picked them up. especially Hocus Pocus, It's Fall. That one became one of my favorites for this year..if for no other reason than the pictures in the book. Although the Poppy books were chapter books, they still were not that long. They were more like the chapter books for 2nd/3rd graders that are just starting to read chapter books.

I also started reading A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Summary Linked) but didn't finish it of course and I didn't want to rush to finish it. I will definitely work on finishing the books I started in November in the month of December. I will try not to start any other ones until I finish the ones I started, even though I do have others on my shelf. 
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Non-Fiction November & Believeathon (11/1/19-11/30/19)

                                                         
I wasn't quite sure if I was going to post this or not because I am not sure how much participation I will be doing, if I do them or not. I have been struggling to read these last couple of months, which seems to be normal this time of year for me over the last couple of years or so. That is part of the reason this is going up so late. To top it off, I can't add pictures to the blog so I didn't want to do it for that reason either because when I try to do it, it just acted up. My previous blog, I had started it before it began acting up so I was able to add a photo to that one.

But, on to why I created this blog....

I will add the Vlogs below to each one. Seeing that I can't add photos, I won't be able to put up the prompts for one but maybe the links to any other sites or you can just go to the videos and look in the descriptions.

I won't force myself to read if I don't feel like it but I will do my best to have fun with both. If I don't do well this time, well, I just don't. Next year, I will just relax on reading and not push myself so hard as I have been trying to do over the years since finding booktube. Just truly get back to my time before booktube when I steadily read but usually, didn't read many more than a book a week..sometimes, I wouldn't read/finish a book one week and be fine with that. Plus, I just remembered I still have the Seasonal reading challenge for fall to finish by the end of this month as well. Hopefully I will get that done. I only chose one word which was September. It was harder than I thought it would be to find books for it, especially ones I'd want to finish!

Well, I just realized, I can't put up the videos either so, I will just put up the links for each booktube video. Google needs to get right! I thought about switching back to wordpress next year anyway, so, if this continues, I guess I might not have any other choice.

So, here is the link to abookolive's (channel link) vlog for Nonfiction November (vlog link).

Here are the prompts as well for that, she can explain how things work better than I can as I stated before:

1. Design
2. Sport
3. True
4. Voice

Now, here is the link for Gavin Hetherington's (Channel link)Vlog for the Believe in the Impossible Readathon Announcement | Believathon 2019 (Vlog link). This is where the link comes in for the prompts because he did a booklet similar to the OWL's/NEWTs done by Book Roast. Here is the link for the Believathon Compendium booklet. It is a google doc so you may need to download it. It is printable of course. You can either click the link above your do it from his video in the description.

I know it's all done late but these are relaxed readathons so there is no pressure. Great for even if you start late. Hopefully all of this makes sense.

 If you decide to join either or these, or both, I hope you have fun!

Happy Reading!

💜 Bridget 💜

Trick-Or-Treatathon Wrap Up

Prompts:
❌1. Costume Party: Read the group book: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
✔2. Monster Mash: Read a book that has your team mascot on it:
       Cast Long Shadows (Ghosts of the Shadow Market #1) by Cassandra Clare**
✔ 3. Fall Foliage: Read a book with fall colors on the cover (red, yellow, orange or brown):
        Can You Stand to be Blessed by T.D. Jakes
✔4. Spooky Hayride: Read a book that involves a trip or a quest:
       Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (e-book)**
✔5. Corn Maze: Read a book where someone gets lost and/or finds themselves:
       Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks**
✔6. Black Cat: Read a book with an animal on the cover:
        The Donkey Cabbages by Brothers Grimm ** (link to my thoughts on goodreads)
❌7. Spider Webs: Read a book that gives you the heebie jeebies:
❌8. Scary Movies: Read a book & watch the movie adaptations:

There were also some other activities but I only did a couple. By the middle of the month, I was just not feeling it. My reading took a totally different direction. Bible Study, Nonfiction, Shows I wanted to watch, etc. I didn't do horrible but I had hoped to do better. I guess things happen. Life happens.

Side Notes:
☼ I was team ghost, which meant we had to do the prompts in order. To be honest, Once I hit Fall Foliage, I allowed myself to cheat a little bit and even if I was in the middle of a book but wanted to read something else, I allowed myself to go to the next prompt. Some may have been switched around as well. [See the Safe Haven side note below]
☼ I didn't read many scary books mostly because I just knew my emotions just couldn't handle it. Although I did pick up a book that I didn't realize it was about domestic violence but it was mostly a romance.
☼ I didn't read Coraline because I just didn't have an interest in it. Even with the movie I never had an interest in watching but when I got a sample of the book, it just didn't catch my attention. One day, I may change my mind (as I have that right to do so), but for now, I just think not.
☼ Cast Long Shadows was a novella in the Ghosts of the Shadow Market bind up. I kind of cheated with that one but I had to make things a bit easier on myself plus, the book I chose for this, I just wasn't in a mood for it. I had read the first two books within the last few weeks to a month and didn't want to read another one so soon.
☼ Almost To Freedom is a book about slavery and the Underground Railroad. I chose it because of course I have been wanting to read it for a while and technically, it is about a "trip" up North to freedom. This book is a story told through the eyes of a doll. I gave it a 5/5. No review/ramble done.
☼ Safe Haven: I initially chose this one for Fall Foliage but decided to change it to Corn Maze because it is a story about a woman finding herself after moving to a new town and meeting some wonderful people.
☼The Donkey Cabbages: I read this one out of a the Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales bind up collection. On this cover, there is a dear, bird and a squirrel. So, I counted this short story as my book for Animal on the cover. On my goodreads thoughts, if you haven't read it already, explains why I decided to read this short story out of the book.

Everything, Everything by Nichola Yoon

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: September 1, 2015
📌Format: Hardcover
📌Setting: Los Angeles, CA
📌Page Count: 307
📌Genre(s): Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary,Fiction
📌Date(s) Read: 10/24-10/29
📌Rating:   Book:  4.5/5   Audio:  4.5/5  Narrator(s): Bahni Turpin & Robbie Daymond


My Rambles:

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to. In the beginning, I wanted to DNF it but I think it was more me than the book. I just haven't had much of an interest in reading lately but I just set the book aside when I didn't feel like listening to it and did other things. I had gotten spoiled for this book sometime ago but thankfully, I didn't remember about it until after it had gotten to that part so I was still able to have a bit of a surprise when it came. 

One of these days, I may take the time to sit and watch this movie but it may be a while as I take so long to get to movies and I have to be in the mood to watch them because for whatever reason, I just stopped watching movies..well, I think I know why but that may be a story for another day. Plus, I still have the Harry Potter movies I need to watch and believe it or not, get through the "newer" Star Wars movies (I've seen the ones from the 80's but not the ones that started coming out in the late 90's through now..yeah yeah, I'm behind!..on more than just them!)

Glad I picked this book up and read it. I really didn't have an interest in it because I thought it would be depressing. I think I saw it at the library and decided "WTH, might as well give it a try!". If I didn't like it, I could always just take it back to the library right?!? 😁

I loved the characters, especially the nurse, Carla. Next to Madeline, she was my favorite. Of course, I loved the love interest as well. Yes, I liked Mom too.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: August 2, 2011
📌Format:  Paperback
📌Setting: Southport, NC
📌Page Count: 368
📌Genre(s): Romance, Fiction, Chick-lit, Contemporary
📌Date(s) Read: 9/29-10/5/19
📌Rating:   Book: 4.75/5   Audio:  4.75/5  Narrator(s): Rebecca Lowman


Trick-or-Treat-athon 2019: 
Corn Maze: Read a book where someone gets lost and/or finds themselves
(This one started off under Fall Foliage but wanted to change it to this one because the one I had for Corn Maze, I had to send back to the library unfortunately)

*Trigger Warning*: Abuse

My Rambles:

This is the second book I have read by Nicholas Sparks, the first being Nights in Rodanthe (haven't seen the movie yet). I don't remember much about Nights in Rodanthe except it was a book about two people meet when they try to get away for a while from the things they are dealing with. I tried to read The Notebook but I couldn't get into it and it was hard to get used to the narrator so I just "gave up".

When I got to this book, I was not expecting the abuse aspect of it but the entire book was well done and I really did love it. I didn't read for a few days because I had gotten stressed out with some things that were going on but once I was able to pick it back up, I couldn't help but fall back in love with the characters and the writing. I do plan on trying some more of his books and hope that I can find some that fit me and what I may be looking for (not so much looking for one thing in particular except for maybe romance but it just pulls me in no matter what it's about). I typically try to steer clear of books about abuse or many things that are depression and anxiety inducing because I really try to keep myself calm and clear of having to deal with pulling myself out of both. Anxiety went up a bit sometimes but I was glad that he put in a lot of happy parts in between the times he had to write about the abuse.

Hopefully I'm making sense with this.

It is really worth reading if you haven't already. It makes me glad that I am able to get into more male authors. For a long time, it was hard for me to pick them up because when I tried sometimes, they'd be too drawn out and boring for me. Yes, I know, some female authors can do the same thing..it gets a bit boring for me no matter who does it. But, it's not just that, I tend to be nervous about a lot of different types of books. Straight sci-fi. Horror. Nonfiction, etc.

Thanks for reading my jumbled, stressed & tired thoughts.

Happy Reading,

Bridget

Contemporary-athon (Round 5): Wrap Up

Prompts:
X1. Read a 2019 release: ✔2. Read a contemporary with yellow on the cover:
Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian ✔3. Read a diverse contemporary (aim to read something outside of your own experience):
Always & Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han X4. Read a contemporary with an illustrated cover: X5. Read a dark/hard-hitting contemporary: ✔6. Read a contemporary with plants on the cover:
Always & Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han
(my thoughts linked above in #3) X7. Read a contemporary that is beloved by a member of the book community (and shout out the creator!):

10/5/19

Didn't do too well with this readathon as I had hoped but at the same time, I got two books read that I might now have otherwise so I will count that as a plus. I have been in a bit of a slump because I just wasn't in much of a mood to read so that is the main reason I didn't do more than two books. Then, on top of that, I forgot to publish it, which is why it is just going up now. I am now 5 days in to a month long readathon that I've been iffy about finishing but it is also helping me to read and get some books off my TBR shelf (physical shelf, not so physical shelf and/or authors I may have been wanting to try. Either for the first time and/or newer authors). The books I did read, the blogs for them are linked in the title of the book if I did one for it.

Happy Reading,

Bridget

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