Final Summary

As I said it's been a good challenge. We even had rainy weather all weekend, so I was able to curl up with good books while it was stormy outside. That so rarely happens and I loved it.

Anyway, on with the final summary.

Started at 5:30 p.m. on Friday June 3rd

Books:

Listened to portions of Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters while driving around doing various errands.

Completed On Hummingbird Wings by Lauraine Snelling

Read Shoapaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Almost made it through The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Ended 5:30 p.m Sunday June 5th

Total amount of reading time: 14 hours 56 minutes.

Alas,the End Has Come

It's been a great reading challenge this year, despite the fact I only got through one complete book. I'm currently in the final chapters of The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick.

Here's how my reading shaped up today:

5:36-6:35 a.m. - Read The Daughter's Walk (59 minutes)

8:02-8:50 a.m. - The Daughter's Walk (58 minutes)

2:25-2:47 p.m. - The Daughter's Walk (22 minutes)

2:55-5:30 p.m. - The Daughter's Walk (2 hours 35 minutes)

Jane Kirkpatrick often uses family histories as the inspiration for her books, which are historical fiction. I've been doing a smidgen of genealogical research lately, so this book was very relevant to me at the moment. I'm just a few pages from the end and I look forward to seeing how it will turn out.

Total time for today = 4 hours 54 minutes

So Ends Another Day of Reading

Have to get up fairly early tomorrow, so I'm calling it a day. I plan on reading while getting ready for bed though, so will give more updates on reading times in the morning.

To all you 48 straight hourers who started at 7 a.m. Friday morning, keep up the great work! You're almost in the home stretch.

And to all a good night.

Another Book Done

Book two in the 48 Book Challenge was Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

In this third book of the shopaholic series, Becky and Luke are engaged. But, as can only happen to Becky, she finds herself carried away by plans for two weddings on two different continents on the same day. How will she ever get out of this latest scrape? You'll have to read it to believe it.

Kinsella wrote another laugh-out-loud novel that I couldn't put down. I just had to know how things would turn out and I wasn't disappointed. Now looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Time updates:

12:54-3:58 read Shopaholic. (3 hours 4 minutes)
4:18-4:32 listened to my audio book while running an errand. 14 minutes
4:49-5:35 finished Shopaholic. (36 minutes)

6:17-6:56 journaling/blogging Shopaholic while eating dinner. (46 minutes)

Total time for this period - 4 hours 40 minutes

Morning errands

Had a great morning running errands and am glad we can count one audio book toward our time. Following this post, I'll be settling in for a good long reading stretch.

Here's how the reading's gone so far today

6:05-6:34 a.m. read Shopaholic Ties the Knot. (29 minutes)

7:42-8:02 Audio book alternated with Shopaholic. (20 minutes)

Ran various errands during which I listened to my audio book (8:23-9:02, 10:51-11:27, 11:38-11:44, and 11:50-11:56 = 1 hour and 27 minutes)

12:35-12:45 composed this blog post. (10 minutes)

Total time so far today 2 hours 26 minutes.

So Super Sleepy

Unfortunately I think I need to head to bed for the night, much as I would love to stay up and read more. I Had to work a late shift last night so was functioning on very little sleep today. There are a couple things going on in the morning for which I need to be well-rested, so I'm calling it a night.

Thus far I've spent from 9:06 or so until 10:40 reading Shopaholic Ties the Knotby Sophie Kinsella. It's a pretty quick read so I should finish it midday tomorrow.

To those pushing through all 48 hours non-stop, I bid you good luck and may you be blessed with lots of delicious coffee to keep you going :)

Night all.

This Evening's Reading Adventures

So, I really did start at 5:30, While driving home from work I listened to a portion of the audio book I"m currently listening to The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters.

A few minutes ago, I reached the end of print book number one. It was one I started some time ago, but finished it during these first few hours of the challenge. Here's my review:

Title: On Hummingbird Wing
Author: Lauraine Snelling

When Gillian loses her high profile job she chooses to come home to help care for her ailing mother. This means moving (at least temporarily) to California from New York. There she finds a life she never expected and when it seems like she'll have an opportunity to go back to her life in New York, she has some choices to make.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story and could relate to many of the choices Gillian had to make. I also particularly liked the symbolism of the hummingbird that Snelling wove throughout the story. Overall the storyline was good, but the writing style took a bit for me to get used to. Once I did though, I was hooked. It was a beautiful and enjoyable story. I recommend this book to those who like a gentle romance, who have had to care for an ailing parent, or who have ever had to make choices in matters of the heart.

Here are my times so far:

5:30-5:56 - Listened to Deeds of the Disturber while driving to an errand I needed to run.

6:00-6:40 - Back in the car and listening to Deeds of the Disturber.

6:51-7:10 - At home, changed to cozy sweats and settled in to read On Hummingbird Wings. Stopped to put some dinner together.

7:24-9:05 - Settled back in to finish off On Hummingbird Wings and add it to various book related sites and this blog.

Now it's on to book # 2.

Update - Total reading time for Friday June 3 - 2 hours 56 minutes

Let the Reading Ship Set Sail!

Just got off work and am headed home. Since one audiobook counts toward the challenge, I say let the reading begin.

My official start time will be 5:30 p.m. Pop on back throughout the weekend for updates. Happy reading everyone.