It’s here folks! Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon! When Dewey started this event, who knew that this event would still be going on strong years later? I hope Dewey is someplace reading with us. I know she would be cheering on all the participants who’ve decided to read some Neil Gaiman, one of her favorite authors. Dewey, you are truly missed.

If you don’t know, the read-a-thon is a day dedicated to reading. It’s not a contest of some sort. We’re all busy and are juggling many roles in our lives. The read-a-thon is a way for readers around the world to relax, sit back, and do something they love: read.

Books from my first stack:

  • The Madonnas of Echo Park – Brando Skyhorse
  • Molokai – Alan Brennert
  • The Distance Between Us – Reyna Grande
  • The Lost City of Z – David Grann
  • The Buddha in the Attic – Julie Otsuka (re-read)
  • Spilling Ink – Anne Mazer
  • Touch – Alexi Zeutner
  • Stardust – Neil Gaiman (re-read)
  • Ghetto Cowboy – G. Neri
  • The Prisoner of Heaven – Carlos Ruiz Zafron
  • The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern (re-read)
  • Urban Farms – Sarah Rich

2nd stack reads:

  • Black Jack – Charles R. Smith Jr.
  • Drawing from Memory – Allen Say (re-read)
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes – Ray Bradbury
  • The Fortune Cookie Chronicles – Jennifer 8. Lee
  • Best American Essays 2011 ed. Edwidge Danticat
  • Anna In-Between – Elizabeth Nunez
  • Wonder – R.J. Palacio
  • Half-World – Hiromi Goto
  • Amulet #5 – Kazu Kibuishi (re-read)
  • I Kill Giants – Joe Kelly (re-read)
  • Lucille – Ludovic Debeurme
  • Big Questions – Anders Miller

Not pictured: a ton of other books

I am not trying to read all of these books in 24 hours; I just like having a huge selection to choose from.

The read-a-thon is always a family event but this time, most of the members of my family are joining in including my kids and my sister. I’ve just finished cleaning my house and now there are read-a-thon stacks everywhere! I don’t mind though.

Hour 1 Update:

We’re up! The kids have already started reading and even my mom is joining us by reading to my youngest. Granola bars have been eaten and coffee is perking now.

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Southern California, USA

2) Which book is your stack are you most looking forward to? That’s a really hard question. Maybe The Night Circus or Stardust.

3) What snack are you most looking forward to? That’s easy Shrimp Fried Rice this afternoon!

4) Tell us a little about yourself.  I keep changing my major. I’m currently an anthropology/psychology major but right now I’m acting like psychology doesn’t exist. If I could choose one superpower to have, I would probably cheat and choose three: super strength, the ability to fly, and I wouldn’t mind the power of persuasion. Plus, I’m a mother of three.

5) If you participated in the read-a-thon last time, what would you do differently now? Nothing!

I will be updating this post throughout the day with everyone’s progress.

Are you read-a-thoning this weekend?

Hour 7 Update

We’re seven hours in and I’ve only finished one book: Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee with my youngest. It’s a good thing everyone else in the house can’t say the same. They’ve been reading up a storm while also eating a ton of food. I would have taken pictures of everything we had but didn’t think about it until after our plates were empty!

Our stats:

  • Number of books Vasilly read: 1 – Only a Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee
  • Books I’m in the middle of: Stardust by Neil Gaiman and How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
  • Snacks, meals, and drinks so far: 3 pots of coffee (for me and Mom), shrimp fried rice, Lorna Doone cookies, chocolate chip muffins, blueberry muffins, oranges, granola bars, and plenty of water
  • Cheering comments left on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and Goodreads: 33
  • Number of books Oliver read: 13 - Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up by Mo Willems, The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland, Flat Stanley and the Haunted House by Jeff Brown, Toy Story: Toy to Toy by Tennant Redbank, Johnny Appleseed by David L. Harrison, Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can you? by Dr. Seuss, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems, Where are you? by Francesca Simon, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss, Spongebob: Halloween Scare by Steven Banks, Shadow by Suzy Lee, and Chuck Close Face Book by Chuck Close
  • Number of books that Valarie read: 2 -The Best Worst Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson and Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown
  • Number of books that Piper read: 6 - Spongebob: The Halloween Scare by Steven Banks, Bake Sale by Sara Varon, Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton, Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson, Bake and Make Amazing Cookies by Elizabeth Macleod, and Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
  • Number of books that Avram read: 8 -Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown, It’s a Book by Lane Smith, Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Facile, Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates, and Chuck Close Face book by Chuck Close
  • Interruptions: Cooking, breaking up arguments, showering, and a iCarly marathon

Mid-Event Survey

1. How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired? A little. I’ve been up since 2 this morning because of insomnia.

2. What have you finished reading? How Children Succeed by Paul Tough. It was a really good book. I need to reread it before I review it. Do you see all the post-its?

3. What was your favorite read so far? See answer #2. :-)

4. What about your favorite snacks? Can I count coffee? I took a mini-break and picked up some cupcakes for later.

5. Have you found any new blogs through the read-a-thon? I’ve found a lot of great blogs. Probably every blog I’ve visited so far today (40+), I want to visit again.

The kids are watching Hocus Pocus, a great Halloween movie. So now is a good time to read something spooky and fit in some picture books.

How’s your read-a-thon going?

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