June 30, 2013

Weekly Wrap-Up 06/30/13



Inspired by "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. 

It's been a busy week of blogging for this gal. Reviews and discussions and features and a FIRST BLOGOVERSARY too! 

Reviews:

A Masque of Infamy by Kelly Dessaint

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Read:

The Violet Hour by Katherine Hill

 The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Currently Reading:
The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey
Upcoming:
Bookish/Bloggish Business:

There were so many bookish reasons to smile this week!

On Tuesday night I attended a picnic/book reading with William Kent Krueger. I sat across from Kent at dinner and he signed my copy of Ordinary Grace! What a generous and intelligent man. Thanks to Redbery Books and Forest Lodge Library for sponsoring this event.

 Are You Well-Read? <~~Great discussion going on here!

The Relentless Reader was featured on Book Bloggers International. <~~See my interview

I celebrated one whole year of blogging, yahoo! There's an AWESOME giveaway that you'll definitely want to enter.

 A shout out to Monika @ A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall (who was inspired by Lauren @ Lose Time Reading) for inspiring me to start organizing my reviews by spreadsheet. I've recycled all of the crazy scraps of paper and calendars I had floating around here. I'm streamlining baby! (Well, I'm trying at least. Old dog, new tricks...you know how it goes.)

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42 comments:

  1. Shannon @ River City Reading6/30/13, 8:36 AM

    Exciting week, for sure! I'm excited to see your review for The Violet Hour and hear what you think of The Wonder Bread Summer...that was one of my Armchair BEA prizes.

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 9:05 AM

      My review of The Violet Hour will be up on Thursday. Spoiler alert: I didn't like it very much ;) I'm really looking forward to Wonder Bread, I hear it's set during the 80's which is pretty cool.

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  2. Rebecca @ Love at First Book6/30/13, 9:50 AM

    Such an exciting time for you!!! And I'm glad you're organizing your reviews. It's important to get organized in some way for sure! I haven't read that post yet (I got waaay behind on reading other people's blogs, which is something I think I need a spreadsheet for!!!).

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 9:58 AM

      Before I started a spreadsheet I had scraps of paper, multiple calendars, and basically just a big mess on my hands, lol. It was working, but not very efficiently. I hope I can keep this up and make it work. It will take some tweaking but I'm on the right track.

      It's easy to fall behind, there are so many great blogs to read!

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  3. Vasilly6/30/13, 10:14 AM

    I love the title of Sweetest Hallelujah. Curious to read your thoughts on Wonder Bread Summer. I hope the spreadsheet works!

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 10:28 AM

      Isn't that a great title? Gorgeous cover too, in my opinion. I'm in the middle of it reading it and there is something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. Hmm.

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  4. bermudaonion6/30/13, 10:42 AM

    I met Kent earlier this year and agree with you - he is great!

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 10:52 AM

      It was so great to meet him, I had a great time :) He's so passionate about independent bookstores and libraries, I loved it!

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  5. Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard6/30/13, 10:53 AM

    I love meeting authors -- what a treat that you got to sit across from Kent at dinner!

    Thanks for the spreadsheet idea and links. I've started using a spreadsheet to (try to) keep track of the ARCs and review copies I've agreed to review. But I'm still using a combination of a paper planner and Outlook to map my posts. Maybe there's a better way...

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 11:42 AM

      It was the first time I met an auhtor. I live in a SMALL town. I had to rein myself in and not drool all over the poor guy, lol.

      I'm giving the spreadsheet a good try. I hope it works better for me than the crazy/awful system I had before ;)

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  6. Andi6/30/13, 12:09 PM

    You have had a busy week! And I can't wait to start Owen Meany!

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 1:16 PM

      I still can't remember if I read that before or not, lol. I'm almost positive I have. I had a love affair with Irving after I read Cider House and read everything of his that I could get my hands on. I can't imagine that I somehow missed Meany. Regardless, I'm totally looking forward to reading it along with you guys!

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  7. Bettina Grissen6/30/13, 1:10 PM

    Congratulations at reaching your 1 year of blogging, that is amazing. And yeah, John Irving! I love John Irving (such a nice man as well, I have kind of a crush on him I must admit)

    Enjoy your week & kind regards,

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 1:19 PM

      Thanks so much Bettina :) Before I started blogging I went through a very heavy Irving phase and I can see how you'd have a crush on him. Hubba hubba! LOL

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  8. Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf6/30/13, 3:03 PM

    I'm so glad the spreadsheet video/post helped you!

    Looking forward to hearing what you think about Wonder Bread. I almost selected it as one of my Armchair BEA prizes.

    LOVE the cover of Sweetest Hallelujah.

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 6:45 PM

      I think it's going to be a lifesaver once I really get the hang of it. THANK YOU! :D

      Delete
  9. Anonymous6/30/13, 5:21 PM

    What a pretty cover that The Sweetest Hallelujah has!

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  10. Lindsey6/30/13, 9:29 PM

    Sweetest Hallelujah sounds interesting. There's an excerpt on Amazon and the writing seems good too!
    Have an awesome week! :)

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    1. The Relentless Reader6/30/13, 10:48 PM

      It's doing a bit of dragging for me right now, rats. I'm hoping it picks back up! Thanks Lindsey, same to you!

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  11. Sarah7/1/13, 6:52 AM

    That is a busy week! But a good one as well.

    I'll be interested to see what you think about A Prayer for Own Meany! I was thinking about joining, but this month looks kind of hectic so far and my TBR pile is already huge, lol. But I hear so many good things about it!

    Have a lovely week!! :)

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 8:33 AM

      I'm fairly sure I read it during my love affair with Irving a few years back but my memory stinks! To be honest I have no time to read it but I'm going to try to squeeze it in anyway. I have a hell of a time saying no! ;)

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  12. Erin @ Quixotic Magpie7/1/13, 8:24 AM

    I am participating in the Owen Meany readalong as well. I love that book so much.

    Wonder Bread Summer sounds interesting - my husband and I were just talking about wonder bread yesterday. Lol.

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 8:33 AM

      Oh good! I'm glad you're reading along!

      LOL, Wonder Bread ;) I'm really eager to get to that book. I've been hearing good things.

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  13. Book of Secrets7/1/13, 8:57 AM

    My hubby wants me to read A Prayer for Owen Meany, but alas, I doubt I will. However, he did recommend What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and I ended up loving that one, so who knows? Happy Blogoversary!

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 10:31 AM

      Thanks Diana! I'm pretty sure that Irving can't go wrong. :)

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  14. Marce7/1/13, 9:17 AM

    I can't believe it is only a year for you, wow, great stuff. I enjoyed following you this year. Here's to many more, cheers.

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  15. Laurel-Rain Snow7/1/13, 9:20 AM

    Congrats on your One-Year Blogoversary! Enjoy the upcoming year...and I see some great titles on your post today, like The Wonder Bread Summer. It's on my list.

    Here's MY MONDAY READING POST


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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 10:32 AM

      Thanks bunches Laurel :) I'm really looking forward to Wonder Bread!

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  16. Shannon (Giraffe Days)7/1/13, 10:21 AM

    Oh wow, I had no idea you'd only been blogging for a year - you're so much more well-established than I am even after 3! My hat's off to you, congrats. :D

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 10:32 AM

      Awww, thanks Shannon ;) You're making me blush, lol!

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  17. Leah @ Books Speak Volumes7/1/13, 11:44 AM

    Exciting week! I just started using a spreadsheet to keep track of cross-posting my reviews to other sites, but I should try out one for planning reviews. Mostly I just rely on a Google Calendar dedicated to blogging to plan my posts right now.

    And happy blogoversary!!!

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 2:34 PM

      I think a Google calendar would do the same sort of trick :) But maybe on a spreadsheet you can see more info at once? I'm still playing around with it.

      Thanks Leah!

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  18. Sam (Tiny Library)7/1/13, 1:35 PM

    Busy week!
    How does organising your reviews by spreadsheet work?

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    1. The Relentless Reader7/1/13, 2:35 PM

      Sam, up in the post I linked to Monika's site where you can see the video tutorial that she made. And then from her site she linked to another blog with even more info. Very handy stuff!

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  19. Anonymous7/1/13, 7:19 PM

    I just added The Boys in the Boat to my TBR list this week. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about it!

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  20. TP7/1/13, 10:04 PM

    Way to be organized with the spreadsheet! I rely on Goodreads, so if that site ever goes kaput ... don't want to think about it!

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  21. Elizabeth7/2/13, 5:44 PM

    The WonderBread Summer looks cute.

    ENJOY your week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My It's Monday, What Are You Reading

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