Bout Of Books Read-a-thon: Update - Goals

My Goals for the Weekly Read A Thon

I hope to finish

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

The Secret Plot to Save The Tsar by Shay McNeal

Wings Of Wrath by C.S. Friedman

All The Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren

Amulet by Nancy Lee Parish

Well that is five books.  I better get cracking.  If you liked my vlog or you did not constructive criticism is welcome.   Please subscribe and check out book blogs and my other blogs.  

Joining A Bout Of Books Week Long Read-a-thon

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Rebecca's Review - The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Title: The Stormchasers

Series: N/A

Author: Jenna Blum

Genre: Fiction, Drama

Publisher: Plume

Received: From Publicist for Review

Release Date: April 2011

Pages: 384

Rating:

Author’s Official Websites:

http://www.jennablum.com/

Rebecca’s Thoughts:

Who we are today comes from our past and the relations in our lives. That includes our siblings and families. In this story, Karina is searching for her brother, Charles, who suffers from bi-polar and has been missing for twenty years. His passion? Chasing storms. So, in order to find him, she chases the storms. In the process, she discovers more about herself, her family relations, and her heart.

This is a rather slow read as it is an emotional drama with no suspense plot or mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. I say this because I easily sat the book down to finish dinner or answer the phone, but the story is well done so you want to go back to it quickly.

I really did like the storyline. The characters were unique and real with lots of depth. I also loved the fun banter between some of them making me want to know them even more and become part of the conversation. The story is laid out with the present at the beginning and then the middle third going back in time to the point where Charles disappeared and the history behind it. Then it comes back to the present and the culmination of the past having to be faced.

This is a great story dealing with the love of a sibling and how far one will go for that love. There is some language in it, but it is not heavy and can be overlooked. Just a few scenes had it in it and was there for the intensity it brought with it.

If you are looking for an emotional and deep dramatic read, this is a book you have to check out.

Note: I received this book from a colleague with no expectation of a positive review.

Rebecca Graf

Author of Deep Connections

Silver Tongue Press

A Book Lover's Library

Read A Thon Update 1

I finished one book. 1 down and.... who knows how many to come.

This is the book I finished....

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Pages read: 308

I would compare the book to The Magicians but not as dark.  The magic part is awesome and sounds like it could be dangerous and fun.  I mean if you were a libriomancer in this book you could literally take out any items from a book...as long as it is not magically closed.  

I am on to read this book....

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Dewey's Readathon - Introductory Questionnaire

Introductory Questionnaire

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

1) I am reading in North America, Pennsylvania.

2) I am most looking forward to reading Beautiful Creatures.

3) Trying not to think about food or I will eat it all.

4) I am a artist. You can see and buy my work on my art blog Confuzzled Designs.

5)Hopefully this one i will read more. I was distracted by RL last time.

Shannon's Review - Beneath A Blue Umbrella by Jack Prelutsky

Title: Beneath A Blue Umbrella

Series: N/A

Author: Jack Prelutsky

Genre: Children’s Poetry

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Received: Swap site

Release Date: April 1990

Pages: 64

Rating:

Author’s Websites:

http://www.jackprelutsky.com/

Shannon Thoughts:

Jack Prelutsky is king of children’s poetry that rhymes. The poetry is nicely paired with Garth Williams illustrations of young kids, animals and whatever else is described.

The poetry is really adorable the rhyming of each poem just flows together as if the words were just meant to shine together.

The first couple of poems are cute and somewhere in the middle of the book they become less imaginative and exciting.

I think children will appreciate the poems and there rhymes. I prefer the poetry about fantasy animals like dragons which were featured in another book of poems by Prelutsky called The Dragons Are Singing Tonight.

Shannon's Review - Horse And Hen Count To Ten by Maisy Daniels

Title: Horse And Hen Count To Ten

Series: N/A

Author: Maisy Daniels

Genre: Childrens, Picture Book

Publisher: Gerald Hawksley

Received: Purchased

Release Date: February 2012

Pages: 27

Rating:

Author’s Official Website:

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

A very simple yet lively childrens’ book on counting.  Using rhyming and drawings of animals Horse And Hen Count To Ten is wonderful book that toddlers can learn from easily.  

The rhyming felt very natural and not forced which why the book feel like so much fun. I like that the Horse and Hen do there counting first and then the story starts over and the child reading gets to count.

I read this through my kindle. To be honest I am not sure how I feel about childrens picture books being read through e book devices.  It feels to be missing something in the connection of holding a real book compared to holding a cold device.

As far as this story is concerned, I loved it.  Children will love it and they will learn from it.