Read-A-Thon October 2010

I started to read in hour 5.

Progress:

Update 1

Time: 18:51 GMT +1
Current Book: Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu
Books Finished: 0
Books Abandoned: 0
Pages this session: 110
Pages total: 110
Hours Reading: 1
Challenges Completed: 0
Prizes Won: 0

Update 2

Time: 20:44 GMT +1
Current Book: Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu
Books Finished: 0
Books Abandoned: 0
Pages this session: 102
Pages total: 212
Hours Reading: 2:30
Challenges Completed: 3
Prizes Won: 0

Update 3

Time: 01:02 GMT +1
Current Book: Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
Books Finished: 1
Books Abandoned: 0
Pages this session: 224
Pages total: 436
Hours Reading: 5:20
Challenges Completed: 6
Prizes Won: 0

Update 4

Time: 10:22 GMT +1
Current Book: A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth
Books Finished: 3
Books Abandoned: 0
Pages this session: 844
Pages total: 1280
Hours Reading: 15:20
Challenges Completed: 12
Prizes Won: 0

Update 5

Time: 12:15 GMT +1
Current Book: A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth
Books Finished: 3
Books Abandoned: 0
Pages this session: 173
Pages total: 1453
Hours Reading: 16:50
Challenges Completed: 14
Prizes Won: 0

Challenges:

Hour 6

Microfiction

As I walk by the street I see the reflection of a man in a storefront's mirror. He seems familiar but I can't quite place him so I decide to turn around to get a better look. Pale blonde hair hides most of his face but I can almost be sure that it's him, the one that got away, my one regret in life. My heart starts to pound and I start running toward him.
"Jack!" I shout, "You're back!"
But as the wind lifts the hair out of his face I realize that it's not him, and that I may never right the wrongs I once did.

Hour 7

Armchair Travelling

Right now I'm reading Darkness Calls and it's set in Seattle. It seems like an interesting city, seeing as how they have the mountains and the sea/lake nearby. I also finished yesterday the Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan and it was great hearing and learning about all these new places, especially Egypt.

Hour 8

Love To Hate

1. Reth - Paranormalcy by Kiersten White: He was one of the bad guys but there was something about him that I really like.

2. Roland - Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. He's the ultimate bad guy, powerful, clever and has penty of resources. Still, there is something about him that it's mysterious and makes him interesting.

3. Marsilia - Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs: She's an evil vampire that can kick mayor ass. What's not to love or hate?

4. Queen Mab - Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher: She's a faerie queen, powerful, manipulative, cold, intelligent ... I shouldn't like her but I do. She makes the books much more interesting.

5. Trent - The Hollows series by Kim Harrison: When I'm sure he's a bad guy he goes and does something nice. I don't really understand him, which is why he still is a bad guy to me.

Hour 9

Shake your Pom-Poms

Cheer with your heart,
Cheer what you feel,
That's when you know the book is real!

Hour 10

Pet Pics

The only book with a "pet" that I really liked was His Majesty's Dragon with the dragon Temeraire (not sure if a dragon counts).

Temeraire threatens to trash the tall trees.

Hour 12

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

2. How many books have you read so far? 1

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Masques by Patricia Briggs.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I've had a few and I try really hard not to scream at people to stop interrupting me.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? Apparently I'm reading less and slower than the one in April.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Not really.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I would set some books aside to read them in the 24 hours period. I spend almost an hour trying to decide what to read.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Yes, I really want to go to sleep.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Haven't though of anything yet.

Hour 13

Title Word Scramble

1. Firefly Lane
2. East of Eden
3. Water for Elephants
4. To Kill A Mockingbird
5. The Great Gatsby
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
7. The Art of Racing in the Rain
8. The Time Traveler's Wife
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
11. A Wrinkle in Time
12. The Polar Express
13. Love Walked In
14. Where the Wild Things Are
15. The Shining
16. Goodnight Moon
17. Interview with a Vampire
18. The Secret Life of Bees
19. The Search
20. The Help

Hour 14

Under the Covers

The 2 books I've read that where different from their cover and/or blurb are:
- Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde: I though it was a romance but it turned out to be a story about growing up and maturing.
- Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder: I though it was a historical book but it turned out to be a fantasy. It was great anyway.


Hour 18

Pitch Your Book

Right now I'm reading Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler. This is an awesome follow up to the previous book Tempest Rising, that has a great cast of characters that have some great powers (this is an urban fantasy novel) and has plenty of humour in it.

Hour 19

Non-Fiction Readthon

The non fiction book I'm reading is A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth. I'm just starting it, though.

Hour 20

Memoir/True Story

1. Have you ever read a memoir/true story (Or book 'based on true events'?) Yes

2. If so, what was the title/author? Open by Andre Agassi

3. What what it about? It was about the life of tennis player Andre Agassi.

4. Did you like it? Would you recommend it? I did like it and I would recommend it especially to tennis fans.

5. How many have you read? 2 or 3

6. Why or what made you want to read it? The story seemed interesting.

7. What was the saddest/scariest one you read? I read one about Marlon Brando and it was pretty sad at the end.

8. Did it have a 'happy ending'? It depends on what you think is a happy ending. Personally, the one about Brando didn't.

9. When choosing a memoir/true story, do you look for a certain kind? ( i.e. historical diary, inspirational like The Freedom Writer's Diary, Christian, non Christian) I have to be curious about the person and/or story.


10. Bonus question(s-it's in parts:) for my giveaway: Have you read 3 or more memoirs/true stories? Title/Author, would you recommend them?If you were to win the giveaway prize, would you want the book, (Sizzling 16 by Janet Evanovich) and would you prefer the coffee or tea? or both? I think I've read 3 (I'm reading the 3rd now): Open by Andre Agassi, A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth and one about Marlon Brando (don't remember the title or author, I read it a long time ago). I'm a fan of Evanovich and I haven't read her last 2 books, so Sizzling 16 would be fine. I don't drink either coffee or tea, but if I had to choose I'll say tea.

Hour 21

Character Photo Challenge

This would be Maxine Kiss from Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu. I know I'm supposed to take a picture, but my camera is broken.

Review: Chimera by Rob Thurman

Title: Chimera
Author: Rob Thurman
Series: Chimera #1
Genre: Sci Fi
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher: Roc
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Ten years ago, Stefan Korsak's younger brother was kidnapped. Not a day has passed that Stefan hasn't thought about him. As a rising figure in the Russian mafia, he has finally found him. But when he rescues Lukas, he must confront a terrible truth-his brother is no longer his brother. He is a trained, genetically-altered killer. Now, those who created him will do anything to reclaim him. And the closer Stefan grows to his brother, the more he realizes that saving Lukas may be easier than surviving him...

This was the second book I've read by Rob Thurman. The first, Nightlife, is also about two brothers and I can definitely see the similarities between both books. The main difference is that in this one both brothers have been separated for 10 years and the younger brother doesn't remember anything about his past or family.

Stefan, the older brother, is a very interesting character. He has been feeling guilty for his brother kidnapping for a long time and he hasn't been able to care for anyone that wasn't Lukas. He kept his feelings bottled up and made some bad choices in his life, especially when he decided to work for the mob, but all of that changes when he finds Lukas.

Lukas or Michael, which is how they named him in the Institution, is a very complicated character. They trained him to follow orders and to not have feelings, so when Stefan breaks him out of there it takes him some time to adjust. It was interesting seeing his reactions to the normal day stuff he never experienced and I loved how he comes to care for Stefan little by little.

This is a very character driven novel and all through the book we learn about Stefan's past, his role as a bodyguard in the mob, the connections he has with other people and how they affect him, but most of all, we see the relationship between Stefan and Misha develop from complete strangers to brothers.

One of the things I liked the most was that the bad guy was a "science guy". He's a smart person with no morals that will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It was really interesting learning about him and his experiments while trying to figure out what he did to Lukas/Misha.

This was a very entertaining book with plenty of action, a character driven plot and a surprising twist at the end. It was one of my favourite books of the year.


Memorable Lines:

“I know the mechanics of course.” He was relentless, horrifyingly relentless. “That was in the biology books. But I was curious about the specifics. So, if you have had sex….”
“Yes,” I spit out somewhat defensively before rolling over and covering my head with the pillow. With muffled voice, I went on, “I’ve had girlfriends, and I’ve had sex.” And please God, I begged internally conveniently forgetting my semi-agnostic ways, let that be the end of it. Naturally, it wasn’t.
“Really?”
At the fascinated tone in his voice, I flinched. Then with resignation I lifted the pillow just enough to gaze at him with one reluctant eye. “Yeah. When I was twenty-one, just like the law says.”

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

Author: Rick Riordan
Title: The Lost Hero
Series: Heroes of Olympus #1
Genre: YA
Release Date: October 12th 2010
Publisher: Hyperion
Edition: Hardback
Blurb:
Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.


Author: Lynsay Sands
Title: Hungry for You
Series: Argeneau #14
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: November 30th 2010
Publisher: Avon
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:
This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . . .

Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .

Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!

Review: The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe

Title: The Heir of Night
Author: Helen Lowe
Series: The Wall of Night #1
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Eos
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

If Night falls, all fall . . .

In the far north of the world of Haarth lies the bitter mountain range known as the Wall of Night. Garrisoned by the Nine Houses of the Derai, the Wall is the final bastion between the peoples of Haarth and the Swarm of Dark—which the Derai have been fighting across worlds and time.

Malian, Heir to the House of Night, knows the history of her people: the unending war with the Darkswarm; the legendary heroes, blazing with long-lost power; the internal strife that has fractured the Derai's former strength. But now the Darkswarm is rising again, and Malian's destiny as Heir of Night is bound inextricably to both ancient legend and any future the Derai—or Haarth—may have.

At the beginning of the book we get to meet Malian, the Heir of Night and Kalan, a novice priest who ends up becoming Malian's friend and at times the only person she trusts. Together they start the journey that begins with the attack and battle at the House of Night castle and that then takes them to discover their destiny and how to fulfill it.

Along the way we meet other important characters to the story like Tasarion, the Earl of Night and Malian's father, Rowan Birchmoon, Lady of Winter and also consort of the Earl of Night and Jehane Mor & Tarathan, heralds from the Guild that have perfect control of their abilities and are not afraid to use them. They are perhaps the other 2 most interesting characters of the whole book (the other two being Malian and Kalan).

One of the most curious things of the book is that it's a mix between fantasy and sci-fi. The Derai and their enemies are all from another world, in other words, aliens.
While there are plenty of new names and terms along the book, the things that are explained are not very complicated and easily understood.

The worldbuilding is great, and I especially liked the descriptions and special abilities of the land. A lot of the book happens in the territory of the Earl of Night, his fortress in particular, and now I'm really looking forward to exploring the world of Haarth outside the Wall.

All in all, the author has created a very rich and complex story with a perfect balance between action and character development that got me hooked from the first page.

Memorable Lines:

"Awake!" Malian cried at the top of her voice. "'Ware foes! 'Ware blood! 'Ware ruin in the night! Awake, Earl of Night! To arms, Keep of Winds!"

Next Book:
2. The Gathering of the Lost (TBD)

Rating:

International Contest Sunday (17)

- Amina Black will give away Personal Demons & The Iron Daughter to 2 winners when she gets 100 followers.
Ends when she gets 100 followers.
Enter here.

* Consumed by Books is giving away a signed copy of The Call: The Magnificent Twelve by Michael Grant.
Ends on October 3rd.
Enter here.

* Down The Rabbit Hole is having a 100+ followers contest. You could win a book of your choice up to $15 from the Book Depository.
Ends on October 8th.
Enter here.

* Only Sexy Books Allowed is having a 500 followers contest. You could win one of the 3 books on her list.
Ends on October 10th.
Enter here.

* Ramblings of a Drifting Mind is giving away 2 prize packs. One with adult books and the other with young adult books.
Ends on October 11th.
Enter here.

* Sparkling Reviews is having a 220 follower giveaway. You could win a box of books.
Ends on October 14th.
Enter here.

* Little Squeed is having a 100 followers contest. You could win Caroline by Neil Gaiman.
Ends on October 14th.
Enter here.

* e-Volving Books is having a 100 + followers giveaway. You could win a book up to $15 from the Book Depository.
Ends on October 15th.
Enter here.

* The Undercover Book Lover is giving away a 3 book prize pack of your choice from her list.
Ends on October 15th.
Enter here.

* Missy's Reads & Reviews is celebrating her 27th birthday by giving away books to at least 2 winners.
Ends on October 16th.
Enter here.

- The Bibliophilic Book Blog is having a blogiversary giveaway. You could win an E-reader, books, swag ...
Ends on November 7th.
Enter here.

- Old contest
* New contest

Do you want me to put your international contest on my post? Contact me with the details.