Three On Thursday

Following Steph's lead & bringing you another edition of Three on Thursday.

As I mentioned on Friday, I jumped back on the Audible train.  Until I can get time to make it to the library, as suggested by Teh Megan, I'm currently just looking at the Daily Deal for new books until I get my next monthly credit.

Here are three books that I recently listened to, and loved.

1. Girl Logic: The Genius and the Absurdity - Iliza Shlesinger

2. You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life - Jen Sincero

3. Unfu*k Yourself - Gary John Bishop

Apparently I was on a little bit of a pep talk kick there.  I'm debating on whether or not to just keep that streak going or not because I also really want to read "Girl Wash Your Face."  On the other hand I'm still kicking myself for not picking up "The Unremembered Girl" the other day when it was a daily deal & also my brother will be flying down in a couple of weeks & we'll be taking a multi-day road trip back to MN together so I should probably also get some type of common ground book we'd both enjoy.

Any book suggestions??

What To Read

Once upon a time I had a list on my phone called "Books"  This was a list of books that I thought sounded interesting & wanted to read.  It had probably 15-20 books on it.  Where did those books come from?  From you.  They came from reading your various posts about books.  I almost even blogged about it.  I was going to type up a post called "Books I Want To Read" ... or something to that effect.  Then ya know what happened?  I didn't get it typed up because I was at work or something when I thought of the idea & then a couple of days passed & I had forgotten about it.  And then, my phone broke... and while all of my apps restored on my new phone, the information wasn't saved on most of them.

I know I could just keep track of them online on various websites & this whole thing could have been avoided.  However, I'm going to be honest...that's not going to happen.  I've had different accounts on different sites to keep track of books & such and it's just one more thing to check.  Maybe I'll go the old pen & paper route this time...

So now I look to y'all.  What are some recommendations for books?  What have been some of your favorite reads over the past few months?  

I already have my first book added to the list:

The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scotch.  I saw it on Biana's Friday Favorites.

There are a couple of others that I remember being on there but only because I had read other books in that series.  Me After You, Just One Year, & Just One Night.

Other than that I don't recall what was on the list.  So even if they aren't the same ones I had on my list before, I'd love to know what you're reading & loving so I can create a new list & get my reading back on.

Let's Take A Quick Break To Read

Taking a quick break from my Throwback Thursday posts partly because most of my other pictures are back in Minnesota & partly because I want to talk about this reading challenge.

It's the the Semi Charmed Summer Reading Challenge

I actually read about it on Kristen's blog though.  (If you aren't reading her blog you should be by the way...)

They had apparently already started but I'm going to start this month (since to me summer is technically June-August...& I didn't even know about it until June 1.  I don't actually plan on linking up or checking in (sorry Megan) it's just more for me.  If you want to link-up or check in though click that little button up there & it'll take you to Megan's blog post about the challenge.  If you're like me & just like to complete challenges for yourself though here's the scoop:  you pick different books that fit into different categories & get so many points for each one.  In the end it adds up to 200 I believe.

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around. (You must have at least 150 pages left in the book to use it for this category.)
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge. (Yes, you will have to wait until the first check-in to choose this book! So no one will be able to finish this challenge in only one month; sorry!)
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title. No other words will count—including kids, offspring, etc.—so please don’t ask. :)
20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014. (Here are 16 ideas to get you started, but I know there are plenty more options.)
25 points: Read a book written by a blogger. (Submitted by Jessica of The Tangerine.)
25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles

A Book Is A Dream That You Hold In Your Hand

I got this little gem from Amy over at A Balancing Act

Author you’ve read the most books from: 

Nicholas Sparks

Best Sequel Ever:

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Currently Reading:

Heaven is For Real - Todd Burpo

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Hot chocolate or coffee

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical books.  I cannot use e-readers.  I have to have to have to have a physical copy in my hands.  This was even true in college when professors would assign online articles.  I would haul my ass to the library & print the whole damn thing out.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

I can't think of a character where I've been all "I would love to date that guy!"

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Hunger Games.  It's not like I was intentionally avoiding it it just wasn't on my must read list.  My roommate at the time told me I couldn't go see the movie with her until I read the book...so I finished the entire series in no time flat.

Hidden Gem Book:

In I think 3rd Grade we read Walk Two Moons.  I have read that book countless times since then.  Not sure that it's necessarily a hidden gem though.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

"Learning to read?" - That was Amy's answer but it seemed pretty accurate.

Just Finished:

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

That's a good question.  I'll let you know when I pick up a book I can't finish.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

"Possibly Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's the longest of the HP series at 766 pages!"

Major book hangover because of:

The Harry Potter series.  I grew up with that series.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

One

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

"Harry Potter Series!"

Preferred Place To Read:

"Snuggled under a blanket on the couch, laying out by the pool or soaking in a warm bath tub!"

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

Get ready it's a long one...& actually it'll be 2 from the same book.

"I used to think that when people fell in love, they just landed where they landed, and they had no choice in the matter afterward.  And maybe that's true of beginnings, but it's not true of this, now.  I fell in love with him.  But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me.  I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other.  I choose him over an over again, and he chooses me."

"Since I was young, I have always known this" Life damages us, every one.  We can't escape their damage.  But now, I am also learning this: We can be mended.  We mend each other."

They are both from Insurgent - Veronica Roth

Reading Regret:

"None I can think of right now!"

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

"I have an obsessive habit of needing to finish what I start. I can't think of any series that I have started and haven't finished with all the books out!"

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Kite Runner

Valley of the Dolls

Harry Potter - pick one any one...

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Harry Potter

The Hunger Games

Divergent

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

There's nothing at the moment.  I just finished the Divergent series & unless I'm reading a series I don't really sit around waiting for books to come out.

Worst Bookish Habit:

Either finishing a book all too quickly & feeling the need to buy a book instantly

or the complete opposite

Starting a book & then not finishing it for forever because life happens.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

I don't have 27 books with me in Texas.  I left most of them back in Minnesota & I'm slowly building up a new collection down here.

Your latest book purchase:

Heaven is For Real

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Divergent series.

The 50 Book Challenge

First of all, I have given up on "My Life in Pictures".  I looked at some of the future promps, didn't know quite what to pick, and got bored with it.  I have multiple blogs that I try to keep up with (one that already requires daily attention & one that requires at least weekly attention) to try to do something daily on this blog as well, especially when I ended up not finding it all that exciting is a bust.

Anyway, I am once again attempting to complete the 50 Book Challenge.  It's something that I tried last year & failed miserably at.  It's one of my 101 in 1001 goals.  Perhaps I will fail again miserably this year but as of right now I'm rockin it.  The goal is to read 50 books in 1 year which is essentially a book a week with a little wiggle room.  I just finished book 5 and am about to start the 6th one after I finish this blog post.  That means as of right now I am AHEAD of schedule!  I am keeping track of my books on Shelfari.  Last year I tried to keep up with them in a blog, I will NOT be doing that again this year.

So far this year I have read:
1. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
2. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
3. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
4. Prep: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld
5. Sweet Little Lies: An L.A. Candy Novel by Lauren Conrad

I am about to start reading My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler.

I really have missed reading.  I used to do it a lot more.  It helps that this semester is a lot lighter load than those in the past have been.  Although I probably should work on some homework before I get sucked into Chelsea's book.  I love her so much!


*Linked blogs from above in order are: Project 365, Brianne Kay Photography, & 101 in 1001.  I also have one for my 30 by 30 that I don't seem to be getting much accomplished for.*

50 Book Challenge

I tried this challenge last year.  The goal is to read 50 books in 52 weeks.  I started out awesome last year.  I was reading at least 1 book a week.  But then I started reading this book that took awhile to give into & I gave up.  I would really like to be able to accomplish this goal this year.  I figure I'm also going to have more time since I'll be moving back to Mora in the beginning of May.  Once I'm back in Mora basically none of my friends will be around, my mom works all day, my brother is never around, & my dad does bridge construction so he'll be gone all the time.  Plus Branden will be deploying & the friends that I do hang out with in St. Cloud will be going away for summer internships or graduating in May.

So!  That means, unless I'm working alll the time, which I am hoping for a lot of hours over the summer, I will have plenty of free time to read.  So someone on a forum that I belong to, which is where I found this whole 50 book challenge, mentioned the site shelfari.  It's a place to keep track of all of the books you have, which ones you've read, & you can rate them or what not.  I put all of my books into "my bookshelf".  I have a slight dilemma, I apparently only own 40 books. 

That means I need to buy/rent at least 10 more books.  Plus I have read almost all of the ones I have, some many times over, and some of them for last years challenge.  Of course I can read them again, there are no rules agains that, but I would really like some more books.  So I'll start with the ones I have, but if anyone has some suggestions for some good books, PLEASE SHARE!

Day 3 - My Favorite Book

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. I first got this book when I was I don't even know how old. Not old enough to be reading it that's for sure. It's an amazing book though. I couldn't really find a good synopsis for it. Well not one that was short anyway. This is what Barnes & Noble has to say about it:
First published in 1966, Valley of the Dolls rocketed to the top of The New York Times best-seller list and went on to sell an unprecedented eight million copies. Unavailable in paperback for over fifteen years, Jacqueline Susann's sensational story of three pill-popping, Gucci-clad show-biz women (whom she modeled after Judy Garland, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe) is back!

I haven't read it in awhile but it's one that I have read many times & could still read many more times. Each time I read it I find something new in it that I seemed to have missed before.