Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Summer TBR Progress + Accountability + Giveaway

I'm writing this partly because I owe you guys an update (you're my accountability), and partly because this is a bookish post to celebrate the blog birthday of Ruffles and Grace.


Remember this post where I listed "books I must read over the summer"? Well, I gave myself until September 1 to complete that list, and since I'm supposed to write a summery book post for Victoria's blog birthday, I thought I could give you a progress report. :)

I had been faithfully ahead on my Goodreads challenge, but here's what it looks like right now.


Out of the 9 books I pledged to read over the summer, I have read . . . 4: Some Kind of Happiness, The Summer Before the War, The Great Divorce, and Pearl in the Sand. I just started This Present Darkness. To my credit, I have read some other books that weren't on my list. How can I say no to a good book when it pops up?? Apparently creating this list wasn't even enough to keep me on track, so I've come up with a new strategy.

I need a reading accountability partner so I get some more reading done! Take a look at my Goodreads to see what I've enjoyed reading. Definitely let me know if you would like to:
  • chat frequently about books (Google Hangouts probably!)
  • constantly threaten one another to read more (kidding. sort of.)
  • encourage each other to branch out in our tastes
  • discuss deeper elements of books
  • recommend books for me
  • meet reading deadlines/goals alongside me
The primary requirements are that you love to read and will constantly challenge me to read more! That's a bit of a tall order, so volunteer at your own risk ;) I think this would be super helpful for me, though, and hopefully for you too.

For now, I think I'd do best with only one person. I've tried team things and I feel like I can disappear for those because there are other people to keep talking. I can't ignore someone when they're waiting on me. :P

If you are interested, let me know in the comments and link to your Goodreads/blog. I want to see if we'll be compatible and then I'll make a decision when I get back from the OCW conference next week!

As I mentioned earlier, this post was part of Victoria Lynn's blog birthday for Ruffles and Grace. Definitely hop over there to read her post and check out the other posts (yesterday's were fashioned themed while today's were book themed). That's where the spectacular giveaway is (of which Martin Hospitality is a part!!).




~~~~~

Seriously, who wants to be my accountability partner for reading?? As a side note, I am currently attending the OCW conference in Portland with Ivy Rose and Emily McConnell, and HAVING A BLAST. I also turned 19 yesterday. So all sorts of new adventures ;)

38 comments:

  1. *waves* hey I volunteer! I'd love to be your accountability partner! You already follow me on GR and know my blog - still wwant the links?

    Yes I've been on Victoria's blog! This giveawayvsounds like fun. *sets out to read all the rules again*

    lisa
    thisinkwell.blogspot.com

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    1. Sweet! I'll see if anyone else has volunteered before announcing my final decision tomorrow :D Nah, I don't need the links again ;) Thank you!!! <3

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  2. Happy birthday! That's so exciting.
    Hope you have fun at the conference.

    iviewrites.blogspot.com

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  3. Happy birthday! Enjoy the conference. It sounds like fun to be with Ivy and Emily. :)

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  4. If you're reading Peretti- COUNT ME about being a book chat partner!!! :D Please. ;) And happy birthday!

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    1. Hey Angela!
      I absolutely love Peretti's books and I'd love to have a book chat with you about them!

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    2. Thanks, Angela! I'll definitely consider it :D I ... haven't made it very far in Peretti yet. But I plan too xP

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  5. Happy Birthday! And book accountability partners- what a great idea! Looks like you already have a million and one people signed up already, so I suppose I must go on the hunt- *looks ferocious*

    Oh dear, that may scare them away. Never mind.

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    1. Thank you :) Yes, I hope it's a good idea! If I can find the right person ;) I'll still count you as a possibility. I just have to do my research on you all. How's that for scaring people away? xP

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  6. I see you have quite a few people willing to be accountability partners, so I feel like I probably shouldn't offer? I would if everyone mysteriously disappears, though. ;) In the meantime, happy reading! :)

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    1. Well thank you ;) I don't mind having a good size list to choose from, so consider yourself on the list of possibilities. Thanks!

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  7. Olivia Bell (aka Livy)August 16, 2017 at 1:58 PM

    Wow! How neat! I love to read to and I am actually an author who is hoping to self publish soon! ;) I'm excited for the giveaway! :D

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    1. How fun! I'd definitely like to hear more about that :D

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  8. Happy late birthday, Abi!! I need to be reading more! Hopefully I get around to reading a few books this fall. :)

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    1. Thanks, Lilly! I know, I was doing very well at the beginning of the year. Ahead of my Goodreads schedule and trying new things ... not anymore! And I don't quite know what happened :P

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  9. Wishing you a year of blessings and happiness.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    Marilyn

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  10. I just read Some Kind of Happiness a week ago too! What did you think of it?

    Happy birthday, and have fun at the conference! *throws confetti*

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    1. It was very unique and I wasn't quite sure where it was going at first. But I ended up really loving it! You can read my full Goodreads review on it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1863825492 What did you think of it?

      Thank you!!

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  11. Hey, happy belated birthday!!

    I haven't read any of the summer titles you mentioned, but I bet they're good. If it's alright, I'd like to add you on Goodreads. :)

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    1. Thanks, Tarissa :) Gorgeous name, by the way.

      Of course! Thanks for asking :)

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  12. I just found your blog through Victoria's giveaway post, and I think I'll hang around a little while. :) I just read This Present Darkness, and The Great Divorce is high on my TBR list! I can't wait to hear what you think of This Present Darkness.

    Helen

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    1. Aw yay! That's awesome! I've only made it through the first four or five chapters, but hopefully I can do a review of it on my blog once I finally finish it. I want to know what you think of The Great Divorce! It was an interesting one, to say the least ;)

      Thanks for commenting, Helen! <3

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  13. ABI!!!
    I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS THE DAY BEFORE MINE! AH! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

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    1. RIGHT?!?!? How cool is that?! Happy birthday to you too XDD

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  14. My summer TBR is kind of... dead. I read less than half of the ones I wanted to. SUMMER'S NOT OVER YET, though.

    Happy birthday, by the way! :D

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    1. Ugh tell me about it xD And this happens to me EVERY TIME!! -_- We've reached September 1 which was my self-set deadline and I never made it much further xP Oh well ...

      Thank you! :)

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  15. Happy birthday, Abi!

    Also, I'd love to be your accountability partner for reading! We are already friends on Goodreads so I guess that you don't need that link, and then my blog is just for photography. ;) I am thinking about starting a book blog with my sister soon though.

    Ooh, I love This Present Darkness! I hope that you enjoy it. =D

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    1. Thanks, Maddy ^.^ Great! I'll put you on the list of possibilities! It's so awesome that so many people are interested!

      You should totally start a book blog! It would be really neat to have one run by sisters, I think. Definitely provide me the link if you decide to do it!

      I do too! The first few chapters have been good, and Frank Peretti himself was awesome. Hopefully I can make some more progress before too much longer xP

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