2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Sing up here! | Jan. 1 2019 - Dec. 31 2019 | Hosted by NovelKnight

Besides the Goodreads challenge, I have not been participating in reading challenges the last two years thanks to graduate school keeping me busy. However, I am officially done with grad school (as of Dec. 10) and I will now have some more time on my hands! When I stumbled upon this challenge on a few other book blogs I knew I had to give it a try. There are so many books that have been on my TBR pile for quite some time that I have ignored. I am hoping to change that in 2019, especially getting to the books I actually own that are just sitting on my shelf.

My Goal

To read at least one backlist book a month, but hopefully read a total of 24! Let's all keep our fingers crossed. I always have the best intentions at the beginning of the year, and then I kind of just forget about the challenges I have signed up for. I am truly hoping that I stick with this one. Perhaps I will make a physical Backlist TBR Shelf on my bookcase for inspiration.

Backlist TBR Pile

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (2006)
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (2012)
This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers (2012)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2013)
The Elemental Series (#1-5) by Brigid Kemmerer  (2012-2014), Own
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (2013)
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (2014), Own
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014), Own
Magnolia by Kristi Cook (2014), Own
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay (2014)
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman (2015), Own
Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall (2016)
Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal (2016)
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis  (2016), Own
The Reader by Traci Chee (2016), Own
The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan (2016), Own
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee (2016), Own
The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller (2016)
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (2017), Own
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (2017)
Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart (2017), Own
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson (2017)
Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton (2017), Own
Lucky in Love by Kasie West (2017), Own
This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada (2017)
Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maureen Goo (2017), Own
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (2017)
Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict (2018)
These Vengeful Souls by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas (2018), Own
Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart (2018), Own
Dreamer by L.E. DeLano (2018), Own

I have also decided to join team Ravenclaw! 

Which books from my list are must reads?

Will you be participating in Beat the Backlist?

Baby It's Cold Outside Read-a-Thon

Hosted by Read. Sleep. Repeat.

I just came across this challenge and at the very last minute decided to give it a try. I know we are probably all a little busy at this time of year, but I have been in some weird reading funk and I am trying to kick it. I figured this is a great way to try and get me to actually sit down and read! Just visit Read. Sleep. Repeat. to sign-up yourself!

Read-A-Thon Goals

• To finally FINISH The Night Circus (I have been reading this for weeks.)
• Read one more holiday novel. I am thinking What Light or Miracle on 5th Avenue.
• Read one of my ARCs. I am leaning towards The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
• Participate in at least one challenge.
• Participating in the Twitter Chat tonight.

My Progress

Day 1 - December 17

• Currently Reading: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Day 2 - December 18

• Currently Reading: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Day 3 - December 19

• Currently Reading: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (STILL)

Day 4 - December 20

• Currently Reading: The same freaking book.

Day 5 - December 21

• Currently Reading: This is getting embarrassing. I will finish this book!

Day 6 - December 22

• Currently Reading: I DID IT! I finished The Night Circus.

Day 7 - December 23

• Currently Reading: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

Day 8 - December 24

• Currently Reading: Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan (I read this one in a day!)

TOTAL: I read two books and made it halfway through a third! I also did one challenge and participated in the Twitter chat. I think this read-a-thon was a success considering how busy I was.

Bout of Books Challenge: Book in a Song

Challenge: Book in a Song

Hosted by Janey Canuck

The Challenge: So, you tell me what connections you have between a book and some music.  Anything goes, really.  Some suggestions to get you thinking:

Rename your book with a song

Give a lyric that sums up the plot of your book

A song or album that is forever associated with a particular books in your mind

These are a few songs that remind me of different scenes from Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury.

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon: Sign-Up, Goals & Updates

It's that time of year again... Bout of Books starts in a few short weeks! I did just finish reading 10 books in 10 days for the #ReadingDecathlon challenge hosted by Epic Reads, but apparently I can't get enough reading challenges... so here we go again. I plan on reading some of the ARCs I got at BEA/BookCon, but really I just want to make time to read a few books and write a LOT of reviews for the blog during this week-long challenge.

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, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 17 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

Reading Goals

~ Read at least 3 books.

~ Actually write the reviews for the books that I read.... Seriously.

Social Goals

~ Participate in one Twitter chat.

~ Participate in at least two challenges.

Some Reading Options
~ The Kids of Appetite by David Arnold
~ The Reader by Traci Chee
~ The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
~ Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner
~ Metaltown by Kristen Simmons
~ Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts

Updates

Monday

I read 70 pages of Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts.

Tuesday

I read another 70 pages of Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts.

Wednesday

I only ready like 10 pages today of Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts.

Thursday

I finally finished Bay of Sighs and have read a total of 319 pages.

Friday

I read nothing. :(

Saturday

I once again didn't read. I think I needed a break.

**Sunday (FINAL/TOTAL UPDATE)
I read 24 pages in Kids of Appetite by David Arnold today. I read a total of 343 pages.

Final Thoughts

So I didn't get done as much reading as I had hoped, but I did finish a book and start a new one. I also got a lot of reviews written this week so that was nice. Overall I could have read more, but I am happy with what I did. I did just read 10 books in 10 days last week.

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon: Sign Up, Goals, & Updates

I always participate in Bout of Books and I always enjoy it! This time around I am still signing up and hope to get some reading done, but since this week is BEA/BookCon I am not sure how much I will actually be participating.  At the very least, I hope to finish my current read and one ARC for the May Clean Sweep ARC Challenge I am participating in.

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 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

Reading Goals

~ Read at least 2.5 books!

~ Write the review soon after finishing the book.

Social Goals

~ Participate in one Twitter chat.

~ Participate in at least two challenges.

The Books 

~ The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

~ The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

~ The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller 

~ The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Updates

Monday

I read 40ish pages.

Tuesday

I read 0 pages.

Wednesday

I read 40ish pages.

Thursday

I read 0 pages.

Friday

I read 0 pages.

Saturday

I read 0 pages.

**Sunday (FINAL/TOTAL UPDATE)

I read a total of 204 pages. :(

Final Thoughts

So I basically signed up for Bout of Books but didn't really participate. Since I worked all week, had puppy class, and then went to BEA Friday and BookCon Saturday I barely read a thing. I did at least finish the book I was reading. That is something... right? I do however look forward to participating in the next Bout of Books and am pretty sure I won't be nearly as busy. How did everyone else do this week?

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Sign-up

Hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer & Kristin @ Addicted to Happily Ever After

The minute I saw Kimberly post this challenge on her blog I just knew I had to participate. I have a small pile of ARCs I would like to read so when I come home from BEA I will have more of a fresh slate. I also would love to get my netgalley review rating up again. Fingers crossed! My goal is to read at least 5 ARCs. That may not seem like a lot, but I feel like it is still a challenge but also attainable.

NetGalley ARCs

Some Physical ARCs

  

Other e-ARCs

ARC for Blog Tour

Bout of Books Challenge: Bookish Scavenger Hunt

Bookish Scavenger Hunt

Hosted by The Book Monsters

The Challenge: It's time to hunt... You can complete as many of the five hunts as you like. You may use your own pictures or images you find online.

Bookish Scavenger Hunt

1. Book Shelves

A took a picture of my most favorite shelves in my bookcase!

2. A book you’re planning to read/currently reading for Bout of Books

This is the book I am just about to start!

3. A Book and a Beverage

Sometimes I just crave a nice cold Diet Pepsi. Also, I just finished the book and it was AMAZING.

4. Blue Books

I just grabbed some random books with blue covers from my shelves.

5. Cozy Reading Spot

This is one of my favorite places to read.

Bout of Books Challenge: Road Trip

Road Trip Challenge

Hosted by Steph in Wonderland

The Challenge: Come up with a list of the top 4-5 states/places you'd love to visit and find a book (you either read or want to read) that takes place in that state/place or a book by an author who lives or is from there.

My Book Road Trip

This challenge has to be my favorite of the week! This is a road trip bucket list of sorts, because I really want to visit all of these places at some point in my life before I die. As for the books, I decided to choose books that I have already read and enjoyed.

England: A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller 

Ireland: Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

North Carolina: Made for You by Melissa Marr

New York: Also Known As by Robin Benway

Louisiana: The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

Bout of Books Challenge: Four Seasons in Book Covers

Four Season in Book Covers Challenge

Hosted by Kimberlyfaye Reads

The Challenge: Convey the four seasons in book covers – through color, title, cover, etc. You can be literal or take a more creative approach. Anything goes! Just show me four seasons in book covers.

Four Seasons in Book Covers

Bout of Books Challenge: Book Scavenger Hunt

Book Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Hosted by The Book Monsters

The Challenge: Go on a book scavenger hunt! You can take your own pictures or use images you find online. You can complete as many of the hunts as you like. The more you do the more chances you have to win! If you like hashtags, use this one – #boutofbookshunt

Book Scavenger Hunt

1. A Book that begins with “B”  (for Bout of Books!)

2. A book you’re planning to read/currently reading for Bout of Books.

My Current Read

3. Blue Book(s)

These are the blue books that I have read this summer!

4. Books from your favorite genre!

Some of my favorite fantasy books!

5. A book on your TBR shelf, or your full TBR shelves

Two books on my Bout of Books TBR pile. :)

Bout of Books: Cover Color Challenge

Cover Color Challenge

Hosted by Wishful Endings

The Challenge: Pick a color and find at least four books that are almost all of that one color. Share your findings with everyone!

Apparently most of the books on my shelves are red and blue. I had even more in those colors than what is pictured below but I thought I would stop making a mess and just stick with the ones I grabbed first. Have you ever noticed if you have a dominant book cover color on your shelves? What is your dominant cover color?