<![CDATA[Cat's Corner Books - Blog]]>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:25:05 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Winter Reading Challenge 2025]]>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 21:49:45 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/winter-reading-challenge-2025
BINGO has returned for a third season!  For this year's Winter Reading Challenge, I have updated a BINGO style board, giving you 25 different prompts to fill in as you read.  The goal is to try to create at least 2 "BINGO" lines, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.  For those who are a bit more speedy with your reading, try to fill the entire card!

The challenge this year goes from January 1 to March 31.  Like for the Summer Challenge, I am not planning out my books ahead of time ... when I finish a book, I will just find a place for it to go on my board.  As with all my challenges, I am not here to check up on you!  This is all about having fun while you try to tackle that ever growing "To Be Read" stack of books!!

I have included a printable PDF of the game board for you to download.  Happy Reading!!

Cat >^..^<
winter_challenge_2025.pdf
File Size: 226 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[October Reading Statistics]]>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:14:06 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/october-reading-statisticsMy goal each month is to read at least 10 books, and I try really hard to mix up my genres.  I thought I did a pretty good job in October.  How well did you do with your reading goals this month?

Cat's Total Stats for October:
Total Books Read -->  12
   5 physical books
   4 audiobooks
   3 e-books
Total Pages Read -->  3120
Total Hours Listened --> 27
Genre
   5 romance
   2 paranormal romance
   1 mystery
   1 contemporary fiction
   1 literary fiction
   1 fantasy
   1 nonfiction
Re-reads --> 2
Average Rating --> 4.0
Hauled --> 0
Unhauled --> 1

​Happy Reading!
​Cat  >^..^<
]]><![CDATA[Catsby's Game ~ October Finish]]>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:11:53 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/catsbys-game-october-finishOCTOBER - WEEKS 3 & 4
​So October just flew by.  I feel like I'm saying that every month ... this whole year!  Where did the time go?  Anyway, I did get 4 more rolls in for Catsby's Game this month.  I did have different books already set aside for a couple other read-a-thons, so Catsby's Game filled in rest.  If you didn't see my post explaining my new TBR game, click here.

Continuing from the last blog post, roll #4 resulted in a five and landed "Tigger" on the "Gotta Love a Series" box.  I spent much of this last month re-reading the Myths and Legends series by Stacie Simpson, and counted "Destined for Time" for this prompt.

Since this book is on my Kindle, I rolled for a fifth time and got a three, "Happy Birthday to Me".  For this prompt I had to find a book that was published in the month of August (my birthday month).  I checked a bunch on my cart and was coming up with nothing so I went to the Audiobooks and found "Sworn to the Orc" by Evangeline Anderson.

But I still didn't have a physical book from my cart ... roll #6 (a one) got me roll again, so roll #7 (a two) landed "Tigger" on "New-to-you Author".  Much easier prompt!  Many of my books on the cart are by authors I have not yet read.  I chose "Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships" by Sarah Grueder Ruiz.
I ended up finishing October with 12 total books.  I will break down the stats for October in my next post.  I hope you had a wonderful month and as always, let me know what you are reading.  I would love to hear from you!!

Happy Reading,
Cat  >^..^<
]]><![CDATA[Catsby's Game ~ Rolls #1, 2 and 3]]>Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:42:56 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/catsbys-game-rolls-1-2-and-3OCTOBER ~ WEEK 1
Hey all!  I'm have finished the last book I started in September, therefore ... Let the Game Begin!  If you did not see my last blog post, I created a game that I will be playing for the last 3 months of 2024 to help me choose my next books to read.  The plan is to read down my to-be-read stacks at home and hopefully un-haul some of those books back into the shop inventory.  As I travel around the game board, if I end up with a prompt that does not fit a physical book on my stacks, I will go to audio or e-books, and then roll again in order to get a physical book to read.
For roll #1, I rolled a six.  Starting at the purple Cat's Corner box in the lower left, I moved "Tigger" 6 spaces to land on "Favorite Genre, Topic, or Trope".  My have a few favorite genres that I read most often, so I went with a paranormal romance and the next J.R. Ward book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.  I had just finished book 7 of this series last month and was so anxious to move on into book 8!
A few days later, I wasn't quite finished with "Lover Mine" yet but decided get the next book lined up.  Roll #2, I rolled a one, which landed me on "Roll Again".  So roll #3, a five, and now I land on non-fiction.  I was very happy with this roll ... I don't currently have any non-fiction on my TBR cart, but I did just download the audiobook "The Third Gilmore Girl" by Kelly Bishop.  And it just so happened that I wanted to start a new audiobook!  Win!!
I will have to roll again soon (almost done with "Lover Mine") but I will save that for the next blog.  If you want to play Catsby's TBR Game, I have linked the PDF version of the game board and rules below.  As always, I would love to hear about what you are reading next!!

​Cat  >^..^<
board_game_1.pdf
File Size: 329 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Catsby's TBR Game]]>Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:11:46 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/catsbys-tbr-gameIt's the change of seasons here in NC, which means a new reading challenge from Cat's Corner.  Well, for this autumn I have created something just a bit different!  How much do you love board games?  If you are following any "book" influencers on any of the social media platforms you have probably seen a version or two of different board games that have been transformed into something "bookish".  Well I did the same thing ... and of course Catsby had to be involved!  Say "Hi" to Catsby and his TBR Game!!
Picture
The play is basic:  you will need one 6-sided die and a marker to move around the board.  Start your marker at the purple "Cat's Corner" square in the lower left of the board.  Roll the die once and move your marker that number of spaces "up" in a clockwise rotation.  Wherever your marker lands, you need to find and read a book that matches the prompt given (as closely as possible.)  When you finish book 1, roll again and continue around the board, reading books to fit each prompt you land on.

The full directions for play and explanations for each prompt space are given in the PDF link below, as well as a copy of the game board for you to print out.
​
board_game_1.pdf
File Size: 329 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
I will be playing this game for the months of October, November, and December and will be documenting my play here in this blog, FB, and Instagram.  My goal is to read down the physical books I have on a cart at home.  If I am unable to match the prompt to a physical book, I will go to Libro for an audiobook or my Kindle app, but will also roll again to get a new prompt for a physical book.  Because this challenge/game is 3 months long, I should have no problem reading through some of my stack (she hopes)!

As always, let me (and Catsby) know what you think of the game and if you will be joining me on this quest!  I always love to hear what you are reading!!

​Cat  >^..^<
]]><![CDATA[May Reading Summary and Spring Challenge Finishes]]>Thu, 06 Jun 2024 23:28:27 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/may-reading-summary-and-spring-challenge-finishes
I don't know about you, but so far this year has flown by!  I had a rough start on the Spring Reading Challenge trying to cure a reading slump.  But overall I made it through.  Here is my final path highlighted in blue ... 3 audiobooks, 2 physical books, and one e-book ... a good mix I think.  Most of the books were romance, which is my go-to read when I'm a bit stuck.  Overall, I liked this format and will probably use it again.

So, March was rough, but by April my slump was broken, and in May I managed to read a total of 15 books, which is my highest monthly total so far this year.  Here are some stats:
RE-READS
  • 13 were new reads
  • 2 were re-reads
READING METHOD
  • 3 audiobooks
  • 8 digital books
  • 4 physical books
GENRE
  • 8 general romance
  • 3 paranormal romance
  • 2 historical romance
  • 1 contemporary rom.
  • 1 paranormal (graphic novel)
I hope you are enjoying these seasonal reading challenges.  Summer Reading Challenge has been posted ... part of my goal for this weekend is to plan out some books that will hopefully get me a BINGO this season (I didn't get one for the Winter Challenge).   :(
Stop by the shop for a chat ... I would love to hear what you have been reading!

​Cat >^..^<
]]><![CDATA[Summer Reading Challenge]]>Tue, 28 May 2024 19:46:30 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/summer-reading-challenge
Can you believe summer is almost here?  It's definitely time for a new reading challenge, and I am so proud of myself for being early on the setup of this one!!

Similar to the Winter Challenge, I have made the Summer Reading Challenge a "BINGO" style board with 25 different prompts.  Read books to satisfy the prompts while trying to complete 5 in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.  Because this challenge is 3 months long, try to go for 2 or more lines.  Some may even try to fill the entire board!  I have attached the PDF below if you want to print a copy to keep track of your progress.  For the Winter Challenge, I completed 14 of 25 spaces but only one line ... so my goal for this one is to read more books and get at least 2 lines!  I'm feeling pretty confident!!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?  Come by the shop and chat, and of course check of that center square!  :)

Happy Reading,
​Cat  >^..^<
summer_challenge_2024.pdf
File Size: 208 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Spring Reading Update]]>Thu, 02 May 2024 17:07:43 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/spring-reading-update
Hello fellow book nerds!
It is the beginning of May and I felt a Spring Reading Challenge update was due.  I have managed to read 4 books so far for my challenge and have the last 2 ready to read this month.  I actually read 18 total books for the March and April and could probably have this Challenge complete, but my first prompts were a bit tricky for me.  I know I own the bookstore and could have found multiple books in my stock with flowers or rain on the covers ... but I am really trying to read strictly from my TBR (to-be-read) stack of books, which really seems to be growing instead but that is a problem for another day.  
​To make it all that more involved, in April (and August) I also participate in the "Magical Readathon" hosted by Book Roast on YouTube.  If you are unfamiliar with the "Magical Readathon", I don't really know that I can explain it that well ... it is very detailed!  So, I have attached the beginner's guide video below.  G. also has all the videos that she has made over the last 3 years in one playlist so that you can catch yourself up, as well as links to free resources that she created especially for this readathon.  Every time I watch these videos I am in awe of the talent she has for putting this all together!

Are you working on my Spring Reading Challenge, or another challenge or readathon?  As always, I would love to know what you are reading!!

​Until the next chapter break!
Cat  >^..^<
]]><![CDATA[Spring Challenge Time!]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:04:48 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/spring-challenge-timeHello all!  With March comes a new reading challenge!!  I hope you have enjoyed the Winter Reading Challenge Bingo.  I only managed one row ... honestly, I really could have had 3 rows completed, but I felt like a couple of the prompts would have been cheating, with me owning the bookstore and all.  But I had a great time trying to find books to fit the prompts!

For my Spring Reading Challenge, I set it up as a "Choose Your Path" adventure, finishing 6 books total by the end of May.  If you want an extra challenge, try reading through 2 paths, or even all of the prompts if you are a quick reader.  
To work through the challenge, start at the top and choose one of the two prompts (read a book with either flowers or rain on the cover).  Once you finish that first book, then follow the arrows to your next choice(s).  If there is more than one arrow you are going to choose only one to follow.

For example, if I read a book with flowers on the cover then I would choose either an audiobook or a physical book next.  If I choose the audiobook, then I only have one choice and would have to read a book with more than 300 pages.  Each row represents one book and when you have completed all 6 you should have a path outlined by the arrows from top to bottom.
I have attached the PDF of the challenge below if you want to print it out, and as always if you have any questions you can email, message (FB), or stop by the store and we can chat about it.  And as with the previous challenges, I will post my progress as well.  I hope you join in!!

Happy Reading!
Cat  >^..^<
spring_challenge_2024.pdf
File Size: 159 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Winter Reading Challenge Progress]]>Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:10:07 GMThttps://www.catscornerbooks.com/blog/winter-reading-challenge-progress
winter_challenge_2023.pdf
File Size: 232 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
It was totally NOT my intention to post the Winter Reading Challenge 3 weeks late!  But better late than never?  Right?  Maybe?

Cat's Corner Winter Reading Challenge is a BINGO style board, which gives you 25 different prompts to fill in as you read.  The goal is to try to create at least 2 "BINGO" lines, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.  For those who are a bit more speedy with your reading, try to fill the entire card!

This challenge goes from December 1 to February 29, so any books started in December can count toward your BINGO lines.  I did not plan out my books ahead of time ... when I finish a book, I just find a place for it to go on my board.

Lastly, I am not here to check up on you!  This is all about having fun while you try to tackle that ever growing "To Be Read" stack of books!!
​
I have a mix of audiobooks, e-books (kindle), and traditional books that I am "reading" for this challenge.   Please feel free to do it your way!

I admit that my first 4 finishes are very "paranormal" heavy, but I do have other books in mind to fill in some of the other boxes that are not paranormal in nature.  I do want to mention, if you read on a kindle and you like spicy romances with vampires, werewolves, etc., then you might want to try Kym Grosso's Immortals of New Orleans series.  The first book in the series (Kade's Dark Embrace) is a free buy as of this post so there is no risk to try.  I am re-reading the first 11 books because the 12th one will be out in April .... but I am only using Logan's book (#4) on this challenge.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!  I look forward to seeing all of you next year and hearing all about the books you finished!!

Happy Reading!
​Cat  >^..^<
]]>