ARC August

My friend Octavia over at Read.Sleep.Repeat is hosting the third annual ARC August, and considering that this is the first August where I have found myself overwhelmed with ARCs, I figured, why not join in?

The entire goal of this challenge is to tackle your ARC TBR. Here are Octavia's rules from the sign up post: 

Rules:
The rules are very simple.

• It may be a physical ARC or eARC but it MUST be an ARC.
• Yes it can be an ARC that has already released; as long as it’s an ARC I’m not going to nit pick really
• HAVE FUN WITH THIS! Feeling like you are being “forced” to read is the best way turn a fun event into a yucky obligation.
• Update post! I personally will do a post for each Saturday in August but that’s just me. You can update once a week, every other week or once for the whole darn event. This update can be in the form of a blog/tumblr post, vlog, link to your “ARC August 2015″ shelf or even an instagram pic! I want to make this as easy and low pressure as possible for you.

My goal is to read five ARCs. This may seem low-key to some, but for me, it's huge considering that this summer, I've been going through possibly the worst reading slump I've ever had.

Here's my tentative list:

1. A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano
   Pub. Date: Sept. 1
2. Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
   Pub. Date: Sept. 1
3.  Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
   Pub. Date: Sept. 1
4. A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
   Pub. Date: Sept. 1
5. Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr
   Pub. Date: July 14

As you can see, a lot of the ARCs I have are for books releasing the first of September, so I have a lot of reading and reviewing to do before then. I also missed the window on Stone Rider, but partaking in this challenge is my way of making up for it. Also, Octavia is holding ARC giveaways as prizes for the challenge, so it should be a lot of fun.

Are you joining in on the ARC August challenge?
Leave me your TBR in the comments!

Bout of Books 13: Favorite Read Photo Challenge

The Bout of Books 13 Readathon is winding down. How is it Day 6 already? I barely accomplished any of my reading goals. I started three books, but I haven't finished any yet. Ah well, it's not over till it's over.

For today's challenge, I had to take a photo of my favorite read so far and then share it with you fine people. I took a picture of Marcus Sedgwick's Midwinterblood. 

What do you think? It is rather late (2:00 a.m. as I write this), so I might just be delirious, but I think it looks cool and creepy and matches the tone of the novel.  And I think the shadows and knives perfect the vignette.

Thanks to Bout of Books and Once Upon a Chapter for yet another creative challenge. I like being given an excuse to bust out my camera. 

Have you taken a photo of your favorite #boutofbooks read? Share it in the comments! I love me a good book pic.

Bout of Books 13: Book Haiku Challenge

I’ve hit Day 3 of the #BoutofBooks 13 Readathon, and I like today’s challenge quite a bit: write a haiku about whatever book you’re reading right now.

Well, I’m reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. So, here goes nothin’:

Introversion is
Empowering. Now just be
Quiet. I’m reading.

I don't want to toot by own horn (toot-toot), but not only does my haiku capture the essence of the book, but it sums up my own personal philosophy in 3 short sentences.

Thank you to Bout of Books and Kristina Horner for organizing such a fun challenge.

How are you doing with the readathon? I’d love to see your haikus.

Bout of Books 13: Bookish Survey Challenge

Alright, time for my first #BoutofBooks 13 Readathon Challenge. A Bookish Survey— my favorite kind.

1. How do you organize your shelves?
   I am an odd shelver. I like to organize my books by genre, then author, then height, then color. Basically, whatever looks and feels right and makes sense in my brain alone.


2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres?
   A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. It’s a play. I read dramas every now and then, but I wouldn’t call it a favorite genre. I just love anything by Tennessee Williams.


3. What is the last 5 star book you read?
   Agonizing Love: The Golden Era of Romance Comics by Michael Barson. It’s a collection of romance comics from the 40s and 50s. Highly entertaining, especially the really chauvinist parts.


4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon?
   Every single one of the physical books I have mapped out on my TBR for the readathon (but maybe Mrs. Mike a little more than the others).


5. What book do you recommend the most?
   Tough one. All of my recommendations are situational. Probably To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. A true literary masterpiece.

Thanks to Bout of Books and Writing My Own Fairytale for the challenge.

Have you taken the survey? Feel free to share yours with me in the comments.