Bout of Books 6.0: Scientific Experiment

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, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th 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 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 6.0 team

Today's mini challenge is called Scientific Experiment and it is hosted by The Bookish Barbies. The whole idea is that your a scientist and have figured out how to bring two characters back from novels for 30 days. You get to pick a boyfriend and a best friend from any novel you want. Here are my picks:

For Boyfriend:

Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- Heck, I'd be happy to have Noah Shaw for twenty minutes. With his Biritsh accent, smoldering looks and wicked streak, he's pretty much the perfect fictional guy. He's always so sweet and I love how supportive he is of Mara. Bascially, it'd be really neat to pick his brain. We get a taste of the person he is underneath in The Evolution but I want more. Plus, I'd just want to hear him talk.

For Best Friend:

Tris from Divergent by Veronica Roth- I love how smart and brave Tris is. She isn't unnaturally brave either because oftentimes, the things she accomplishes terrifies her but she does then anyway. She interesting because she never does what I expect and I think that would make her an awesome friend!

Sidenote: I wonder if these two would get along with each other? They're very different but I get the feeling that Noah would love how teenie Tris was.
Which two characters would you choose to bring to life for 30 days?

My Update for the Day:

Monday

Pages read today: 40
Total number of pages read: 40
Total number of books I've read: (Still reading) 1
Books: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Bout of Books 5.0: Mini-Challenges Day 5

I'm participating in Bout of Books this week (as if you can't tell by all the posts) and as such, I'm also doing some mini-challenges. You can learn more about Bout of Books here.

Mini Challenge 1: Music Pairing

The mini-challenge is hosted by My Not So Real Life and the point is to match up your current read (or any other book) with a song that you think matches the book.

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Paired with:

Dig by Incubus

I've paired these two together because I think the song perfectly describes the relationship budding between the two main characters Ananna and Naji. Through a series of trials, they are learning to rely on each other, whether they want to or not, and that is doing good for both of them. We've already seen Ananna "dig" Naji out of his gloominess a little and Naji is beginning to "dig" Ananna out of feeling like she is uneducated. I think this song really works for the bond of friendship that is growing!

Mini Challenge 2: Virtual Travels

This mini challenge is hosted by Ex Libris and the challenge is to pick a book and post pictures of what you think the setting looks like.

Again, I'm going with my current read which is The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clark.

Here's what I think Lisirra, the grand desert city, might looks like:

The desert they walk through surround Lisirra:

The cannon with the river cutting into it:

The Ayel's Revenge, the pirate boat, Ananna and Naji get on:

Though The Isle of the Sky haven't been described, here's what I'm picturing:

Something with a lot of mist and lots of rocky mountains.

Mini Challenge: Page 99

This challenge is hosted by My Seryniti and the point is to look at your next TBR book and take a peek at page 99. Then all you have to do is talk about your impressions.

My pick is Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

The 99th page in this novel starts on a new chapter where things are winding down. I am glad I get to know that Cas is working really hard on finding his way back to Anna and I'm pretty sure something hilarious happened to Thomas as there was a mention of "dead people's junk food" but I have no idea what's going on. As I'm already stoked to read this novel since I love the first one, this sneak peek didn't do too much to make me any more excited but it did re-affirm that it's the same old Cas and I can't wait to pick it up!

Bout of Books Mini-Challenge: Most looking forward to

This mini-challenge is hosted by Pages of Forbidden Love for the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon and is aimed at answering two questions about books you are most looking forward to.

1) What book are you most looking forward to based on summary alone? Feel free to show off the summary!

Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey

Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever. 

With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed. 

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem Annabel Lee, Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.

Ashes on the Waves is expected out June 2013 by Philomel/Penguin.

I have a whole list of books that I'm waiting on that still don't have covers but this one is very far up on my list of must haves. I've always been a huge Poe fan and Annabel Lee has always been my favorite work from Poe because it disturbed me a lot when I read it in sixth grade. I love Lindsey's other work and I know she is going to do this poem a lot of justice. I can't wait!

2) What book are you most looking forward to based on cover art alone? Feel free to show off the beautiful cover art!

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

A broken past and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel. Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is. 

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life. 

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Let the Sky Fall is out March 5th 2013 by Simon Pulse.

I can't get enough of this cover or concept for that matter. Definitely one of my favorites for this year. I love the color because you don't see it a lot in YA and paranormal.

What were your choices?

Bout of Book 5.0 Mini Challenges for Day 1

I'm participating in the Bout of Books read-a-thon going on now. For more info, go to their website here. For Day 1, there are two fun mini challenges. Make sure to check them out.

Mini-Challenge 1: Literary BFF

This challenge is hosted by Auggie Talk and the point is to talk about your favorite literary character that could be your best friend. It's all about who you love to hang out with!

My literary BFF came to me instantly. It was a no-brainer. And that person is Mara Dyer from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. The moment I opened that book, I really related to Mara's voice. She was witty and funny and I loved how I was never sure if I could trust her. She reacts to situations the same way I do. It was crazy to find a book that was like a better scripted version of the voice in my head. She always makes me laugh and surrounds herself with the coolest people.

Beyond all that, I love Mara because she is just a normal girl with some very freaky stuff happening to her. She's brave enough to face her fears and really cares about her family. I'm not sure I could show the same amount of bravery as she does when she goes after her little brother.

We'd have a rocking time together!

Mini-Challenge 2: Where do your books go?

This challenge is hosted by Reading in Texas and The Space Between to find out where your read books go. They also tell us about this really cool site where you can share your finished books!

I'd like to say that I'm not selfish with my books but the truth is, I hoard them. I do have a decent reason though! When I was in ninth grade (back in 2001), I wrote out a list of goals in my character class. One of those goals, (in fact, it's one of two goals I've actually stuck with) was to own AND HAVE READ 1,000 books. I've seen so many home libraries in houses which just have "fancy" looking books on them but the people have never actually read them. I decided to not be one of those people.

So I keep my books on very organized bookshelves that my hubby made me and continue working towards my goal of 1,000 books. If I happen to receive extra copies, I give them away on my blog or in Twitter giveaways and I've donated some to my library.

Check out my shelves:

This is my "read" shelf. Everything on this one has been read front to back by me!

This is my comics/to be read shelf/classics. My classics are lined on the top there. My comics (which are all Buffy currently) are in the first cubby hole. The others are all my tbr books.

Finally, the books I receive in the mail line the shelf above my computer since they are the most urgent.

And that's what happens to my books!

The next bookshelf my hubby is going to build me is going to be super awesome. It's going to look a little something like this:

Those are both of the mini-challenges for Day 1. Did you make a mini-challenge post? I'd love to come check it out1