Tuesday, April 30, 2013

#iamreading | LEVEL 26 series | The Bout of Books

I will be reading the digi-novel series Level 26 all week during the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon. It is a three book series that includes Dark Origins, Dark Prophecy, and Dark Revelations. I have been meaning to read the series for quite a while.

What are you going to read during the bout?

The Dark Origins series centers around a rogue serial-killer hunter. Steve Dark is head of a highly secret and incredibly skilled black ops element within the U.S. government, which is tasked with finding and bringing to justice the most brutal and horrific murderers in the world. - The Book Depository



Level 26: Dark Origins

  • Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker (creator of the CSI television franchise) with Duane Swierczynski
  • ISBN-10: 0451232380
  • Paperback: 432 pages

This book has video extras so you can read and watch. Oooh la la!
"About every twenty pages, you will have the option of logging in to experience a digital cyber-bridge—a three-minute motion picture scene with A-list actors you might’ve seen in blockbuster films and award winning TV shows. Before your eyes, the characters will spring to life, crime scene details will explode off the screen... "

By the way, there are 20+ copies (paperbacks + hardcovers) of Dark Origins available on PaperBackSwap.com right now (including a hardcover that I posted). The hardcover ISBN is 0525951253. Order a copy and read along with me.




Dark Prophecy: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark
  • Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski
  • ISBN-10: 0451234936
  • Paperback: 464 pages

Short Description via The Book Depository:
Steve Dark is a man with a unique talent for catching serial killers. Now he's on a mission to embrace his destiny, unbound by authorities, moral or otherwise, and supported by a mysterious benefactor with unknown goals of her own.




Dark Revelations: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark

  • Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski
  • ISBN-10: 0451235975
  • Paperback: 417 pages

Short Description via The Book Depository:
The conclusion to the groundbreaking Level 26 trilogy, a series of edgy, unconventional thrillers about an FBI operative tasked with the ultimate search-and-destroy mission: to take down the world's most dangerous serial killers.


ADDED May 13, 2013



  • Authors: Bram Stoker
  • ISBN-13: 9780978927097
  • eBook: 452 pages



  • Please drop by this blog post during the week of May 13th to offer encouragement, say hello, discuss these books, or just peep at my status updates. 

    Goals

    • Read 3 books (total of 1313 pages): Dark Origins, Dark Prophecy, and Dark Revelations
    • Participate in a Twitter chat. [DONE]
    • Visit 5 fellow Bout of Book 7.0 read-a-thon-ers daily
      • I realize that I have been a bit of a blog creeper this week. I have been visiting and not commenting. I am going back to comment on the blogs that I have visited. I'll add them to my update comments.

     

    Updates

    Monday (May 13)
    While checking my Twitter timeline, I realized that I had missed the start of Bite-Sized Dracula. So instead of starting Dark Origins... I started reading Dracula. SMH. [I have the Dracula ebook above so I am filling in with Bite-Sized Dracula's extras.]

    Do consider joining me in the read-along. It's a neat way to read a classic. The actual text of the novel is posted on the blog, so you don't need a copy. The BSD blog posts a new portion daily (it started May 3). We should able to catch up to the blog by the end of the read-a-thon without throwing off our other reading.

    Tuesday (May 14)
    Wednesday (May 15)
    Thursday (May 16)
    Well, I realize that I have picked some pretty dark reads for this read-a-thon. I don't usually read books with serial killers or vampires as the primary characters. So I find it interesting that the multi-media aspect was compelling enough to reel me in for the read-a-thon. 

    Do you know of any other books that have a multi-media component?

    I think that scheduled reading might be best for the Dark Origins series anyway. It is VERY dark. The cyber-bridges are enhancing the novels though - so I am happy that I chose to read the series. 

    I am going to need something shiny happy to read next week. Any suggestions?

    Friday (May 17)
    Saturday (May 18)

    Sunday (May 19)


    Overall, I am pleased with my read-a-thon results. I would have liked to participate in more of the challenges. The week just was just too busy. I did get to check out a lot of blogs though. There are so many good book blogs out there. I could spend days reading about books and not actually read one. LOL! I am going to try and visit some more blogs between now and the next bout. I definitely plan to participate in the next one.

    Will you be participating in the next bout?

    I noticed that a number of bouters are using the Google Friends Connect (at least until it goes away) and bloglovin' widgets for followers. I have added them both to my site. Please follow my blog and I'll do the same for you.

    Thanks for dropping by to visit!

    #iamreading

    Monday, April 29, 2013

    I'm In! The Bout of Books Read-a-thon



    The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


    Bout of Books
     

    Monday, April 15, 2013

    Wonder Women! [Documentary Trailer]

    Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines
       
    Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and produced by Kelcey Edwards, Wonder Women! is a fun and warmly witty look at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation. - Independent Lens




       

    Dig into the documentary:

    Wednesday, April 3, 2013

    Check Out "First Love, Last Rites" (film) via Hulu.



    The book that I am most looking forward to reading during Dewey's Read-a-Thon on April 27, 2013 is First Love, Last RitesIan McEwan (bestselling author of Atonement: A Novel) won the Somerset Maugham award for this collection of short stories so I have big expectations. After the read-a-thon, I am going to take a long nap and then watch the movie adaptation below.





    Joey (Giovanni Ribisi) and Sissel (Natasha Gregson Wagner) are two misfits falling in love for the first time in this story based on a short story by acclaimed author Ian McEwan.


    First Love, Last Rites
    • Aired on 08/07/1998
    • Rating: R
    • Run Time: 1 hr. 34 min.

    Try Hulu Plus - Get 1-week FREE
     

    Tuesday, April 2, 2013

    I Cheer 4 Dewey's Read-a-Thon ~ Giftaway

    Last week, I was in a frenzy trying to get my back-up reading list ready for Dewey's Read-a-Thon on April 27, 2013 (see my main TBR list on ALM). I joined BookMooch in hopes of finding some good books for the read-a-thon. What is this read-a-thon?

    Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon is sort of an international reading challenge, only everyone participates at the same time. For 24 hours, participants read books, post on their blogs (and/or social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.) about their reading, and visit other readers’ blogs. Participants also take part in mini-challenges throughout the day and win prizes. There are five ways you can participate: Reader, Cheerleader, Mini-Challenge Host, Organizer and Prize Donor.

    Today, I signed up to cheer for the read-a-thon. You should too! You can devote as much as 12 hours to as little as an hour of your time. It’s whatever works best for your schedule.




    I want to do some pre-cheering about the read-a-thon so I've decided to host a giftaway.+

    Three entrants will be randomly selected to be gifted two BookMooch points each from madhoydenish.* The points can be used to mooch 2 books domestically (at 1 point each) or mooch 1 book internationally (at 2 points).

    BookMooch is an international online community for exchanging used books. There is no cost to join the BookMooch web site. Don't have a BookMooch account? Learn more about it here.**

    To qualify, all giftaway entries must be made using the Rafflecopter widget below.


    a Rafflecopter giveaway


    + This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, BookMooch.
    * Within one week (seven calendar days) of notification of win, selected entrants must provide their BookMooch userids (linked to an open valid account) to receive gifted points.
    ** madhoydenish is not responsible for any issues and/or costs arising from use of the BookMooch service, including any issues with the availability, giving away or receiving (i.e. mooching) of books.



    Monday, April 1, 2013

    MAD Hoydenish is on BookMooch

    This is no April Fool's joke. I joined BookMooch in hopes of finding a few good reads for Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon on April 27, 2013.

    Are you participating?

    BookMooch is an international community for exchanging used books. It lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want. There is no cost to join or use the web site (your only cost is mailing your books to others).




    If you are on BookMooch, be sure to add me as a friend. My userid is madhoydenish.

    Happy reading!