Read-A-Thon Wrap Up

Well, yesterday was the last day of the Sweet Summer Read-A-Thon, and I decided to do a wrap up post to calculate what goals I finished that I set in the beginning!

Read 100 or more pages a day

Read a classic

Finish last month's book club read

Get some research done on the side (didn't really get to that too much, but I did a little bit of writing instead.)

Total Books Finished: 3 1/2

Total Pages Read: 1,057

I was kind of hoping to read over a thousand pages by the end, so I'm happy I met that goal too! All in all, I really had a fun time with the Read-A-Thon. It was a great start to my summer reading.

Something Old, Something New

Today's challenge in correlation to the Sweet Summer Read-A-Thon is "Something Old, Something New" hosted by The Coffee House. Basically it's just stating the first book (novel, not picture book) you remember reading and the latest you finished.

Here's mine!

Something Old: This was a hard one, but I believe that it was an abridged copy of Black Beauty. One of those that has all the pen and ink drawings in them :)

Something New: Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Just finished it last night!

Only two more days for the Sweet Summer Read-A-Thon! When I'm done I'm going to make a write up of all that I read and the challenges I accomplished :)

Until then!

Summer Reads Challenge

Today in accordance with the Sweet Summer Read-A-Thon, Jessica at Books and Bottles is hosting a Summer Reads challenge. It's simply to make up a top ten list of your favorite summer reads that you would reccomend to others.

Now, My idea of summer reads is a bit different than most people probably think. I don't technically read a lot of "Summer Reads" since I don't read Chick Lit and I don't read a lot of contemporary and that seems to be what most "Summer Reads" are classed as. MY idea of summer reads are sea stories, adventures, cozy mysteries, and westerns, so for a different twist on traditional summer reads, here's some that I have enjoyed:

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke: This is a fantastical adventure story and I love it a lot. Not a beach read, but good for rainy days.

The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson #1): I read these last summer and they are so fun, and easy reads that they make perfect summer reading.

Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson: This is my book club's read for this month, and have always liked this story. Perfect adventure, and pirates make for good beach reads!

The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco #1) by Lindsey Davis: This goes into the cozy mystery category. Falco is fun to read, his sarcastic narration makes for easy reading. I'm packing a few to take to the beach with me this year.

The High Liners by Louis L'Amour: One of many books in his Sackett series, this is my favorite, but any of them would do. Summer always makes me want to read westerns.

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan: Another fun summer series read like Percy Jackson. Good adventure, Easy reading.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman: I probably put this on all my top ten lists. It's one of my favorites. Great adventure, I've read it so many times, and it never gets old!

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel: Another great adventure with sky pirates and shipwrecks and all that good stuff. Another one of my favorite books.

Dealing With Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles #1) by Patricia C. Wrede: If you want a fun fantasy book, this is definitely a great series. I always recommend it highly.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (League of Princes #1) by Christopher Healy: Another funny and enjoyable fantasy/retelling series.

Let me know what some of your favorite summer reads are!

Spell It Out Challenge

Today's challnge is corelation with the Sweet Summer Read-A-Thon is "Spell it Out" hosted by Hannah at The Book Tower. The rules are either pick your name or your blog name and spell it out with book titles. It doesn't say they have to be on your shelf, but that what I'm going to do anyway since I have them all right in front of me :P

Here we go!

C-inder by Marissa Meyer
H-and of Dinotopia by Allan Dean Foster
A-rchived (the) by Victoria Schwab
R-eckless by Cornelia Funke
A-llies and Assassins by Justin Sompter
C-alling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
T-hief Lord (the) by Cornelia Funke
E-ntwined by Heather Dixon
R-edwall by Brian Jacques

P-rincess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
U-nbound (the) by Victoria Schwab
R-ob Roy by Sir Walter Scott
G-reat Expectations by Charles Dickens
A-irborn by Kenneth Oppel
T-o Tame a Land by Louis L'Amour
O-utcast by Rosemary Sutcliff
R-aven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Y-oung Montrose (the) by Nigel Tranter