Monday, May 19, 2014

Bout of Books Days 5, 6, 7 + Wrap-Up

Friday

Time spent reading:  1 hr. 15 min.
Pages read: 195
Books completed: 1 (Everything On It)
Challenges: Cover Scavenger Hunt & Rainbow of Books


Saturday

Time spent reading: 2 1/2 hours
Pages read: 161
Books completed: 1 (Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History)

Sunday

Time spent reading: 2 hr. 45 min.
Pages read: 136 + 1/2 hr. audio
Books completed: 1 (Maus II: And Here My Trouble Begins)

Wrap-Up

Total books completed: 7
Total time read: 17 hours
Total pages read: 1009 + 3 hrs. 45 min. audio

The finished stack

I never in a million years would have set a goal to read 1000 pages in a week and can't believe I actually did anyway! The majority of those pages were graphic novels and children's poetry, but that number is still pretty mind-blowing to me. I'm a slow reader who usually reads about a book a week, if I'm lucky. This event has made me more conscious of the extra time I have in a day to read if I really want to. I'm really hoping to carry over new habits I started during Bout of Books into regular life. All I really did differently this week was take advantage of an extra half an hour here or there to read -- first thing in the morning, on my lunch break, etc. It has completely amazed me how much the time adds up when I am not just reading at bedtime. It's been a revelation!

14 comments:

  1. Yay! So glad the week was a success for you!

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  2. 1,000 pages in a week is great! Well done! It's nice that this challenge has helped you find ways of fitting in more reading.

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    1. Thanks! It was a very fun week and I'm glad it helped me learn a few tricks too :)

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  3. Congrats! I don't read all that fast either, but I got five books finished this week. I really hope to read more often as well. Sometimes life just gets in the way.

    -lauren

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    1. Thanks! Life definitely gets in the way and that's OK. But it's nice to have a bit more of a plan/routine in place so I can stop getting in my own way when it comes to making time to read.

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  4. Congratulations! Sounds like you had a very successful Bout of Books. Hope you can continue with your new reading routine for as long as possible :)

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    1. Thanks Sam! It was so much fun and I hope very much that it continues. I'll have to see how I'm doing by the time the August Bout of Books comes around :)

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  5. What an awesome job on this challenge! So amazing! I really need to do the next one!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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    1. You should! I was hesitant for so long, but am really glad I gave it a try :)

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  6. *pompoms! confetti!*

    This is what I hoped your experience would be. Little extra reading time here and there can really add up! I'm still beating myself for not following the challenges because I would have gladly taken part of the rainbow as well. My own readathon was very relaxed this time (I will put up the post today), for example compared to the one in January - back then I finished 4 books whereas now only 1 (technically - I finished one book a day before the BoB and one book a day after :p). But it's been nice nevertheless!

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    1. Thanks Riv! I don't know what I was *afraid* of all those others times I decided not to join. The rainbow challenge was fun -- I always like an excuse to put my collection to use! I can definitely see how Bout of Books could be more or less intense depending on how the week falls with your schedule and what kind of reading mood you're in. I think I'm hooked now though and will probably join in future and just go with the flow if it falls on a busier week :) Glad you had a good week too!

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  7. I'm glad you had so much fun. You read so much!!! :D It also makes me happy to see you discovered some new reading habits that you are loving. I wish you the best of luck with keeping them, although I'm sure you don't need luck.

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    1. Thanks Kay! I could always use luck on something like this :) So far, so good this week. I got hooked on an audiobook and my house is looking quite clean as a side effect... I think I'm switching back to (mostly) print for a bit and I think these new habits will definitely come in handy.

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I'd love to hear what you think :)