The Starting Line: 48HBC 2014

Greetings, fellow lunatics!

My name is Alyisha. I’m a Millennial with a penchant for books, googly eyes, and bavarian creme donuts.

Fortunately, I’m able to indulge at least two of these passions in a healthy, dare I say almost-adult-like way by working in the Children’s Room at a Public Library in New England. This is my second year participating in the 48 Hour Book Challenge, but it’s my first time using this blog to compete. Last year, I used my personal blog, The Pooka Picks, but this year I thought I’d use my Book Club’s group blog to help bring a little more attention to it. Normally, No Boys Allowed Reviews is used once-a-month by myself and four other lovely ladies to review our book club’s read for that month. We all review the same book, individually and communally, to show how one novel can affect each reader in a completely unique way. We focus on “chick lit,” and it’s our mission to prove that girly literature, like the audience to which it’s targeted, can be smart, witty, and fierce.

But enough about that. ONWARD, TO THE CHALLENGE!

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce my reading coach, Miss Moxie Crimefighter.

Moxie’s a 2-year old house rabbit who prefers bananas to donuts; I know, I don’t get it either.

Behind every great fighter, there’s a great trainer…

Rocky & Mickey; Buffy & Giles

… and she is mine.

If I seem to be projecting an illusion of toughness here, know that it’s exactly that: an illusion. I wear those pants to bed, not to exercise. That’s not even my kettle bell.

She’s been working me to the bone in preparation for this weekend, but I know it’ll be worth it. She was also assigned the very important task of narrowing down my reading selection from the towering piles you see here —

— to a smaller, much more manageable stack.

LOOK AT THAT TONGUE! As you can see, most of my reading choices are YA with a magical/fantastical slant.

She was a very discerning selector.

Sadly, I don’t have as much time to donate to the challenge this year as I’d like. I’m working 9-5 on Saturday and I’m one year older (but clearly no wiser), which means I’ll need even more beauty rest than I did last year. It’s hard for me to give up my precious sleep, but I’m going to try (to some extent). I’m hoping to read at least five books this year, in 20-some-odd hours. I may come in below that, at 4, or slightly above it at 6 or 7, but only time will tell: time which begins… NOW!

Happy reading!!!