High Summer Read-a-Thon Update and Mini-Challenge

UPDATE

I wonder what it is about a read-a-thon that always makes my personal life go into interference mode?  On Monday, I spent most of the day taking care of read-a-thon business; organizing the mini-challenge/giveaway post, visiting blogs to welcome, inform, and encourage, and making sure that everyone was signed-in properly (I also read a bit of The Widow of the South).  All this is to be expected when hosting a read-a-thon and I don't mind it a bit because I love interacting with people.  So, Monday was a success in a different way. =O)  On Tuesday, I read Part III of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson for TuesBookTalk, but it still was a sad accomplishment.  Constant distractions from my sons are ever present! Wednesday was the day that the personal stuff really came into play.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned it yet, but I'm going on vacation next week.  We--my mom, myself, and my sons--are headed up to Michigan to visit my sister for a week and a half and I will also be attending my 25 YEAR class reunion.  My husband isn't going because of work so we are taking Mom's car...we thought! The air was not working in her car and she had the free-on recharged in it.  A week later, it was out again.  She called me yesterday to tell me that her mechanic told her the compressor was gone and it was going to take $800 to fix it.  Long story short, Mom has put a lot of money into that car and she is finished doing it.  So, guess what I was doing yesterday instead of reading?  Yes, that's right...researching rental car rates and specials at local auto dealerships.  It took me half the day! Mom has pretty much decided to buy a new car so that's what we will be doing on Saturday (part of the day).  Yes, quite a read-a-thon sob story, I know.  Anyway, here are my plans for the rest of today/tomorrow.

--Finish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
--Finish The Widow of the South
--Catch up on To the Lighthouse (for read-a-long)
--Start Vlad: The Last Confession tomorrow

MINI-CHALLENGE


Laura at Book Snob is hosting this fun mini-challenge.  The task is to find pictures of actual places/locations in your book or find images that relate to the time period or theme you are reading about and put in your blog post.   Then describe the significance of the images you are using so we can understand it and include a picture of your book cover, in case we might want to read it later.

I have been alternating between The Widow of the South and Dragon Tattoo, but I decided to go with Widow for this challenge because it's historical, my favorite genre, and it has significance to where I've lived for the past 20 years.  It has been interesting reading this book and imagining actual places I've visited and driven near in a town just a few miles from where I live in Nashville.

The Battle of Franklin (Tennessee) was fought on November 30, 1864.  Historians have called the battle "the bloodiest five hours of the American Civil War."  2000 men were confirmed killed in the battle, with about 1750 of the dead being Confederate soldiers.  Many more soldiers were wounded or lost/missing.  All told, close to 9,000 casualties of war.

Painting: The Battle of Franklin

Carnton Plantation, owned by John and Carrie McGavock, quickly became a field hospital for the wounded.  Carrie McGavock herself helped nurse the wounded men, even using strips of her own dresses for bandages.

Carnton Plantation

A couple of years after the battle, the graves and markers of the dead soldiers became deteriorated and relocation was discussed.  John and Carrie McGavock generously donated 2 acres of Carnton land and it became the McGavock Confederate Cemetery.  A record of the dead was compiled and Carrie kept track of that record for over 40 years.  She is said to have corresponded with many of the families of the dead soldiers.  1500 confederate soldiers are buried there.

Carrie McGavock

McGavock Cemetery

I was born and raised a Yankee girl, but living in the South for 20 years has made me more sympathetic to the Confederate army.  Not sympathetic to their motivation for fighting the war, which I detest, but sympathetic to the  sad state of the soldiers who fought in the war.  In war, it's true that one side usually wins, but everyone loses in the long run.  The soldiers on both sides lose their lives and the families they left behind lose fathers, brothers, and sons.  It really is a sad thing to think about no matter what side you're on.

Book description from Goodreads:
The title character of this haunting historical novel is Carrie McGavock, whose farmhouse was commandeered as a Confederate field hospital before the tragic battle at Franklin, Tennessee, in November 1864. That day, 9,000 soldiers perished. This tragic event turned McGavock into "the widow of the South." She spent the rest of her life mourning those lost, eventually reburying nearly 1,500 of them on her property. Robert Hicks's first historical novel captures the life-altering force that war exerts even on noncombatants.

Cat Thursday

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

Sorry for another late posting.  I was so tired (read-a-thon late nights) that I actually fell asleep in the middle of working on the post.  Now that's tired! So....

One more gratuitous Christmas in July cat pic and one regular one today.

Link up here:

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and The Sunday Salon.

The High Summer Read-a-Thon started today (actually at 12am this morning).  Remember you can still join us, even if it's for the last two days or if you can only do the early part of the week.  We're having some mini-challenges and giveaways too! If you decide to join us, go HERE to sign-in and read!

My two year blogoversary is on August 5th! I'm working on getting together some prizes for a big giveaway.  So far, the uber cool Nicole at Tribute Books has donated FIVE eBooks for me to give away.  Still have some irons in the fire on prize donations and, if all else fails, I'll do a little something myself.  Won't be much since I'm SO broke, but I'll do something.  I love my blog and I love my followers! I hit two other milestones recently as well.  Went over 400 GFC followers and over 500 feed subscribers.  Awesome!

There's one more week of Christmas in July over at The Christmas Spirit.  Stop by over there, if you haven't.  There are some really great guest posts and a couple of giveaways.

You can read about what I'm reading this week for the read-a-thon HERE.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour.  This month's host is Gwendolyn at A Sea of Books.  (want to read a book description?  Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon)






WON:
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters...from vvb32 Reads
The Trouble with Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan...from Misty at Book Rat

I won ALL of these awesome books from Kai at Fiction State of Mind!
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of More Fun Stuff To Do by Megan McDonald
Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger
Token by Alisa Kwitney and Joelle Jones
Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley
Hidden by Helen Frost
Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

BOOKMOOCH:
Cats with Attitude by Nicole Hollander

LIBRARY SALE:
Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte
The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll
The Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss
City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book One by Cassandra Clare
Love, Again by Doris Lessing
The Royal Physician's Visit by Per Olov Enquist
Roses by Leila Meacham
The Crown Rose by Fiona Avery
The Quest by Wilbur Smith
Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton
The Keep by F. Paul Wilson
A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith
The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

Did you get some book awesomeness last week?

High Summer Read-a-Thon: Mini-Challenges, Prizes, and Giveaways

I apologize for the late arrival of this post.  My day has not gone quite how I planned so far today.  Guess you can't plan for everything! I hope that those of you who are already reading are enjoying it so far.  As promised, here are the list of prizes and other mini-challenges/giveaways going on during the read-a-thon.  My mini-challenge will be listed last.

Prizes for the participant giveaway:

• The generous ladies at Back of the Book Reviews are donating Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson (audio CD) and a selection of merchandise from Dorchester publishing.  International prize! Please note:  if you are an international winner, the prize could be delayed by a month due to the person donating the prize being on holiday.
• Author Lisa Kessler is donating her short novella, Across the Veil (PDF copy) and a signed set of Night Walker (her new novel, out in August) romance trading cards.  (read my review of Across the Veil HERE)  International

Giveaway details:  Read-a-Thon participants who sign in (HERE) when they start the read-a-thon and wrap up (linky will be provided) at the end, will be eligible to win.  There will be two winners.  You may specify in the comments below what is your prize preference.  There will be two winners, so first place winner will get first choice.  Giveway will end on Sunday, 7/31 at the end of the read-a-thon and winners will be randomly selected at Random.org

Mini-challenges and giveaways at other blogs:

• Laura at Book Snob is doing a mini-challenge and there will be prizes (not posted yet, but keep checking back at her blog.  I will come back and change the link to the actual post when it goes live).  Go HERE.
• JP at Elle Lit. will be hosting a giveaway of two prizes packs, one adult and one YA.  I believe the giveaway will not be available until toward the end of the read-a-thon because she is out of town.  I will let you know when the giveaway is up and I will post the link here.  Go HERE.

Now for my mini-challenge!

This is going to be an art challenge because the prize is a set of signed e-prints of the art from Michelle Franklin's Haanta Series.  The artist is Michelle's good friend, Twisk.  She is ultra talented.  I just love this art work!

For my mini-challenge, find a painting/art work online (Google images, photobucket, flickr) that would either be a good cover for the book you're reading and/or might describe the action in the book.  This should not be an image of the original cover.  Also, include a short description of the book.  You can do a post on your blog and leave the link in the comments.  If you don't have a blog, just leave the link to the image and the title of your book.  Also, please leave your email so I can contact you if you win.  Since these are e-prints and will be emailed to the winner, the giveaway portion is International.  Mini-challenge/giveaway will end on Sunday, 7/31 at the end of the read-a-thon.  Winner will be randomly selected using Random.org

Here is my the image I chose for The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks.  Carrie McGavock, plantation owner in Franklin, Tennessee, is forced to turn her home into a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.

Good luck on the giveaways and mini-challenges! If you have any questions at all regarding this post or the read-a-thon, please email me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

High Summer Read-a-Thon: Starting Line!

It's time! The read-a-thon has officially started.  If you signed up beforehand (or even if you didn't) be sure to sign-in at the linky when you start reading.  You can link your post about what you're reading or just link to your blog.  No blog?  Link from Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.  Remember, you can join in at any time during the week.  You do not have to sign in until you start reading.  As long as you sign in at some time during the week and complete a wrap up post (and link it) at the end, you will be eligible for the participant giveaway.  Periodic updates would be nice, but that is not set in stone either.  We will also be tweeting at #HSreadathon.  You can link your updates there too if you want.  Check back tomorrow because I will be listing all the giveaways and prizes and I will post my mini-challenge details and any mini-challenges be hosted by other blogs.

I'm going to try to stay offline as much as possible this week, except for what pertains to the read-a-thon.  I will post my TTBA Weekly News/Mailbox Monday, possibly a review, Cat Thursday, and I have to continue with my Christmas in July over at my The Christmas Spirit blog.

Here's what I'm planning on reading this week:

--Catch up on To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf for a read along
--Finish The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks for a read along
--read Vlad:  The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys
--read part III of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson for TuesBookTalk
--might do some reading in a couple of writing books
--???
--??
--?

BOOK REVIEW: THUMBING THROUGH THOREAU (EBOOK)

Thumbing Through Thoreau: A Book of Quotations by Henry David Thoreau 
Compiled by Kenny Luck
Illustrated by Jay Luke and Ren Adams


My thoughts:  Kenny Luck was a young man who felt such an affinity toward Thoreau that he spent months studying Thoreau's works from a devotional point of view.  He began collecting Thoreau's quotes and soon found that the quotes had relevance to many aspects of life.  He decided to compile the quotes into a book to share with others.  The book is divided into sections.  The sections are Society and Government, Spirituality and Nature, and Love.  Kenny also includes an index which enables the reader to quickly locate quotes pertaining to subjects they are interested in such as:  war, truth, mankind, sympathy, etc.

I enjoyed this book.  I have long been a fan of Thoreau's writings and I liked the way this book touched on many of his most brilliant quotes, at least in my opinion.  The only downside was reading the eBook on my Sony Reader, which is not color.  The book is purported to have beautiful illustrations and, unfortunately, I was unable to experience them as I was reading.  In the end though, the words are what matter and here are some of the quotes that I found most meaningful....

It is never too late to give up our prejudices.  (Walden, "Economy," p. 9)

There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them...  (Civil Disobedience, p. 362)

The mass of mankind who lives in houses or shops...know nothing of the beautiful days which are passing about and around them.  Is not such a day worthy of hymn?  It is such a day as mankind might spend in praising and glorifying nature.  It might be spent as a natural Sabbath, if only all men would accept the hint, devoted to unworthy thoughts.  (Journal V, vol. II, August 19, 1853, p. 383)

It is astonishing, as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest man thinks he must attend to in a day...
(Familiar Letters and Index, vol. 6 "Letters to Harrison Blake," March 27, 1848, p. 161)

Nothing can be more useful to a man than a determination not to be hurried.  (Journal I, vol. 7, March 22, 1842, p. 342)

Every man carries a fire in his eyes, or in his blood, or in his brain.  (Journal II, vol. 8, July 16, 1850, p.41)

There is never an instant's truce between virtue and vice.  Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
(Walden, "Higher Laws," p. 241)

I learned this, at least, by my experiment:  that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined,  he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
(Walden, "Conclusion," p. 356)

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put the foundations under them.  (Walden, "Conclusion," p. 356)

However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it or call it hard names.  It is not so bad as you are.  It looks poorest when you are richest.  The faultfinder will find faults even in paradise.  Love your life, poor as it is.
(Walden, "Conclusion," p. 361)

Life is so short that it is not wise to take roundabout ways, nor can we spend much time in waiting.
(Familiar Letters and Index vol. 6, "Letters to Harrison Blake," September 1852, p.220)

Great thoughts make great men.  (Journals I, vol. 7, February 7, 1841, p. 2)

All the past is equally a failure and a success; it is a success in as much as it offers you the present opportunity.
(Journal II, vol. 8, 1850, p. 44)

...I have freedom in my thought(s), and in my soul (I) am free.  (Journal II, vol. 8, July 21, 1851, p. 325)

What infinite faith and promise and moderation begins (with) each new day!
(Journal II, vol. 8, August 12, 1851, p. 3)

Book website:
http://www.thumbingthroughthoreau.com

Kenny Luck

Buy on Amazon

Sample Illustrations:
http://www.tribute-books.com/thoreau/photos.html
http://www.tribute-books.com/thoreau/photos2.html

Cover Illustration:
http://www.tribute-books.com/thoreau/photos3.html

Read an excerpt from book's introduction HERE

Visit compiler Kenny Luck on Facebook

Tribute Books website

Tribute Books on Facebook


Tribute Books on Twitter


Reading Challenges
Monthly Mix-Up Mania
The Dewey Decimal Challenge
Outdo Yourself



I received an eBook copy of this book from Tribute Books to read and review.  I received no monetary compensation and the review is my honest opinion.

CAT THURSDAY

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

Here is another Christmas lolcat in honor of Christmas in July...and a little extra fun after that. =O)

Here's the linky:

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER--JOIN ME AT WORDSMITHONIA

My good friend Ryan at Wordsmithonia is hosting me over at his blog today for Favorite Fictional Character.  In honor of Christmas in July, I'm featuring a Christmas character, but you'll have to go to Ryan's blog HERE to find out who!

I hope you'll stop by!

HARRY POTTER NOSTALGIA

They were so cute, especially Ron.

Since I'm all nostalgic about the end of the series, both books and movies, I thought I would participate in this meme I saw over at Tasha's blog.  The meme was created by TifTalksBooks.  I finished book #7 recently and I saw the movie on Saturday so be watching for my book/movie review coming soon.

When and Where (when you first discovered the series):  I was almost 30 when the first book was released.  In fact, it came out two weeks before my birthday.  I'm pretty sure my young cousins were the ones that told me about it.  They were around 8 and 11 years old so they were right at the age for the books.  I'm not sure when I actually got the first book, but I read it well before the first movie came out.  A bit of trivia for you.  My older son was born two weeks before the first movie came out in 2001.  We went to see it Thanksgiving weekend (I think) and took him with us.  It was his first movie! Granted, he was an infant in his infant carrier and he slept straight through, but still.... (Incidentally, his second movie was The Fellowship of the Ring, which came out that December!)


Favorite Character:  What a hard one! I love Sirius Black, but he's in the books such a short time.  Probably Hermione is a favorite and I have to say Snape (for anyone who has ever been misunderstood).  And then there's Ron....Oh, I could go on and on!


Most Hated Character:  Lord Voldemort and I have a special dislike for Lucius Malfoy.


Favorite Book:  Order of the Phoenix  not many people liked this one, but it was my favorite.  I think it was because it showed Harry finally taking charge and growing up.  I read this one really fast!

Favorite Movie:  Prisoner of Azkaban because of the introduction of Sirius Black and Professor Lupin.  I also really liked Goblet of Fire because I enjoyed the introduction of the other schools and the dance.  I really love all the movies though!


Rank the Books (1 = favorite, 7 = least favorite): 


1. Order of the Phoenix
2. Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Goblet of Fire
4. Half-Blood Prince
5. Deathly Hallows
6. Chamber of Secrets
7. Sorcerer's Stone


Most Memorable Scene:  My most memorable scene is a sad one.  When Sirius Black gets killed in Order of the Phoenix.  A happy one I loved was when Harry caused Lucius to give Dobby a sock, therefore freeing him.  Priceless!


What You Will Miss the Most:  looking forward to reading the new books and to the movies coming out. =O(


What You Are Looking Forward To (even despite the end):  I'm not quite sure how I feel about Pottermore yet, but I am looking forward to what Rowling will write next.  She is going to write more (not Harry Potter, I know) books, isn't she?  I hope so! I'm also looking forward to seeing what Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson do next in their careers.  I heard Emma is doing Beauty and the Beast with Guillermo Del Toro.


What are your favorite Harry Potter memories?

TTBA WEEKLY NEWS AND MAILBOX MONDAY

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by  The Sunday Salon.

The 10 eBook giveaway of Michelle Franklin's books, The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu and Tales from Frewyn ends Sunday, July 24 at 11:59pm CST.  There will be ten winners and each winner will receive a copy of each eBook.  If you haven't already, stop by and read Michelle's short story HERE and enter the giveway.  It's International too!


There are two giveaways currently going on during my Christmas in July event over at The Christmas Spirit.  One eBook copy of Michelle Franklin's new book, Khantara.  Michelle shared a delightful holiday story about the Frewyn Christmas.  Go HERE to read it and to enter the giveaway (International).  The second giveaway is from author Tiffany A. Higgins.  She is giving away two copies of her children's book, We've Seen Santa.  She shared with us the origins of her family's holiday traditions.  You can read it HERE and enter the giveaway too (US and Canada).


The High Summer Read-a-Thon is only one week away! If you haven't signed up, why not check out the details and sign up.  I've got some great prizes lined up and there will be a few mini-challenges hosted by other bloggers as well.  You can read all about it HERE.  Would love to have you with us!


What I'm reading:
I didn't finish anything last week.  I am seriously in a reading rut! Hopefully, that will change next week during the read-a-thon.  *fingers crossed*


Currently reading:
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (read along)
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks (read along)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (TuesBookTalk read along)
Dante's Journey by JC Marino


Advance plans for read-a-thon reading next week:
Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys
The Greek Maiden and the English Lord by Patty Apostolides
???
??
?

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour.  This month's host is Gwendolyn at A Sea of Books.



WON:
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens...from Jessica at A Book Lover's Diary
Thief by Sarah-Jane Lehoux...from Melissa at My World...in words and pages
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty...from Alyce at At Home with Books

FROM A FRIEND:
Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys...from Kathleen at Blog O' the Irish and CelticLady's Reviews

BOOKMOOCH:
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Christmas by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

BOOK TOURS:
with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours-

Eromenos by Melanie McDonald (September)
Road from the West: Book I of the Chronicles of Tancred by Rosanne E. Lortz (October)

CAT THURSDAY--AUTHORS AND THEIR CATS (1)

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

I was inspired by Irene last week by her POST where she featured a film star and her cat.  She is going to do this weekly and link up here.  So, I decided to make the second Cat Thursday of each month Authors and their Cats Thursday.  Each time I will feature an author and their cat(s).  Appropriate for a book blog, I think! Today I have for you....

Alexander McCall Smith and his cat

Photograph: Murdo Macleod

I also wanted to share this video with you that had me laughing out loud.  There really is not any sound so you do not have to worry about turning off my music player (unless you want to).


Here's the linky:

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon is on!

STICKY POST FOR READ-A-THON UPDATES AND MINI-CHALLENGES--SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW POSTS


End of read-a-thon--final update


Total pages read = 226 (almost equivalent to one short novel, although pages read were from three different books).
To the Lighthouse = 60 pages
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo = 102 pages
The Widow of the South = 64 pages

Not great, but I did do some catching up, which was what I wanted.  I just have too many distractions in my life right now!

Thanks to Lori at Pure Imagination, Readind Angel, and Candace's Book Blog for hosting this fun event!



Update 7/13/11


I'm not going to do any mini-challenges so I can focus on the reading.

I have read a total of 190 pages so far in the read-a-thon.

I read 60 pages in To the Lighthouse for a read along
I read 102 pages in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for my TuesBookTalk read along.
I have read 28 pages out of the 294 I need to read to get caught up on The Widow of the South read along
If/when I finish that, I will pick up Roots again.


Read-a-Thon Update and Mini-Challenges 7/12/11


I'm not updating in terms of entire books read because right now I'm reading sections of books for read alongs.  Yesterday was less than stellar...big surprise! I read the first section of To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, 60 pages.  Late last night (or technically early, early this morning) I tried to start Roots by Alex Haley and promptly fell asleep.  I got up late this morning so after I get this bit of blogging done, I will read the section of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson for tonight's TuesBookTalk.  After that, it will either be Roots again or The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks.

Mini-Challenge
I'm doing one of the mini-challenges today and it's hosted by Casey at The Bookish Type.  The challenge is to pick any book from your readathon pile and write a fake synopsis based solely on the cover. The synopsis does not have to be related to the actual book at all, just the pretty, pretty cover.


The sea swirls and churns below the lighthouse.  In the distance, a ghostly ship can be seen upon the water.  Sam McKay has been the lighthouse keeper for years, but this is the first time he has seen this apparition.  What does this mean for their little island?  Sam finds local paranormal expert, Abbie Turner, and together they set out to investigate the story behind the ship.  Will they find out the ship means to menace or will it prove to be just a harmless haunting?

************************************************


Mini-Challenge #1--hosted by Bailey at IB Book Blogging.  She asks us to answer the following questions:


Mini Challenge Question 1:What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?
While I'm a fan of most myths, my favorite has always been the Arthurian legends and myths.

Mini Challenge Question 2:
What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?


My favorite book featuring my most favorite myths and legends is The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.  One of the best Arthurian legend novels ever written!


**************************************************



The read-a-thon started 30 minutes ago...oops! I was thinking midnight my time, but I'm an hour behind the 12am EST start time so it should have been 11:00 my time.  Anyhoo, I'm starting now! Here are my plans:

First thing will be to catch up on read along reads today...

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
• Roots by Alex Haley
• The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks

If I have any time left today, I will read the following...

• Finish Dante's Journey by JC Marino
• Finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

On Tuesday, read the section for the TuesBookTalk read along...

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson

Continuing Tuesday and for the rest of the read-a-thon...

• The Greek Maiden and the English Lord by Patty Apostolides
• Captivity by Deborah Noyes
• Blood and Silk by Carol McKay

I realize I may not get to all these, but always keeping my options open.  

Yours truly,

a read-a-thon addict