On The Eve of Bout of Books 6.0: Readathon Tips !

 

 

 

 

Hello Everyone! I’m a read-a-thon junkie! I love clearing books from my shelves and the week long Bout Of Books is one of my favorites. Since I do so many Read-a-thons I thought Id share some tips with you on how I prepare the eve before. Let’s Get to it!

 

1) Make sure you are officially signed up!

   I always check the Host blog the day before to make sure I'm listed as a participant.

2) Bookmark the Host Site

The Bout of Books site is on my favorites list. That makes it easier to visit the site each day for links to challenges and other Important information.

3) Schedule

 Though there is no pressure involved in any read-a-thon, I find it helps to plan out my week in my blog calendar. I can plan out which days I can:

 Maximize reading: For me Monday and Wednesday mornings, Friday Afternoons and Saturdays are optimum.

Socialize: Tuesday, Wednesday Night and Thursday Night I’m running around for work so it’s a great time for me to twitter chat, visit blogs and encourage readers on twitter.

 

Make a Reading Stack: I make an impossible stack for reading but only because I like to have a variety of genres. Also be willing to walk away from your stack and pick up your E-reader or even a library book.

 

Update Posts : I’ve started keeping One separate post for mini-challenges and one post for Updates. I find it easier this way since some challenge hosts require you to leave a link for the contest.

 

Have Fun: I always have to remind my self to not get caught up in results and just have fun! I also stopped putting the number of books I’ve read online and leave it for the update posts. I’ve noticed that I will sometimes judge my progress by others and seeing that someone else has read 5 books while I’m still on my first used to bum me out! So now I focus on giving exposure to the books I’m reading online and letting my posts boast my mad reading skills, or lack thereof ! ;)

 

Snacks & Locations : I always stack my fridge during a readathon. It means when I’m home I can just focus on tuning the pages! I also leave my house sometimes to hang at a Starbucks for a change of pace and to avoid distraction.

 

 

So there you Go! My Readathon Tips! Happy Reading, Snacking and Connecting during Bout of Books !

Treasury Of Victorian Murder: The Case of Madeleine Smith

   

   

PUBLISHER:

NBM COMICS LIT

Poison has often been cited as a "woman's weapon". especially if you are a respectable young woman in a prominent family. The Case of Madeleine Smith was an absorbing read with surprising results! What I love most about Geary's stories is I hadn't heard about many of the cases he writes about so I was literally on the edge o my seat turning the pages to see how the cases would turn out.

Madeleine's story begins in Glasgow in the 1850's. The oldest daughter in a well to do family Madeleine has had a proper upbringing including tutelage in an English finishing school. Now back in Glasgow she engages in the occupations of polite society while waiting for a marriage offer.

Her life changes when her eyes meet those of Emile L'Anglier a young clerk well below her station. After the two are formally introduced they begin a passionate correspondence and clandestine meetings.

All of this is not fully exposed to her family and once her father discovers the attachment he demands it end.

Emile however has become obsessed with the relationship, an obsession that Madeleine either encourages or discourages based on her moods.

After the two consummate their passion Madeleine becomes cold towards Emile and rumors begin to circulate about her being out in society with William Minnoch a suitor her father approves of.

When confronted with the truth Emile suffers a bout of conscious and demands she tell her father about their relationship. He also threatens to produce her letters to his father as proof of their attachment.

Madeleine quickly agrees to a meeting and soon afterword Emile because extremely ill.

His illness prevents him from proceeding on his threats and two subsequent visits to Madeleine also result in illness before his painful death in March of 1857 of Arsenic poisoning.

After reading the stacks of letters in Emile's possession suspicion turns towards Madeleine who has been reported buying Arsenic on three separate occasions for the vermin in her garden.

A highly publicised trial  with startling results ensue. Such a great read! A great addition to the series. Geary is very thorough in his research and the art as usual is gorgeous.