NYE Read-a-thon

Jenn over at Picky Girl is once again hosting her New Year’s Eve Read-a-thon. As much as I like the idea of going out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, I really like the idea of being home tonight, wrapped in a cover, and getting 2013 off to a great start with a few books I want to read.

The only rule of the read-a-thon is to let others know you’re participating.

On Twitter, the read-a-thon’s hashtag is #nyereadathon

What are you doing tonight? Any special plans?

1st Update: I’m continuing The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg for tomorrow’s group read discussion. The book is so interesting, I think I’ll just finish it today.

Jenn’s Q & A for participants:

1. What are you reading today? The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, some children’s books, and hopefully I’ll start reading Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon.

2. Are you a comfy reader, or do you get dressed, wear shoes and socks, and sit in a straight back chair? Both. I started reading around 6 this morning while in my pjs. Now I’m dressed and will probably curl up on the couch with my reads.

3. Food. What will you be eating/imbibing today? This morning I had a slice of leftover pizza and coffee. Lunch will be anyone’s guess followed by tortilla soup for dinner.

4. Have you finished a book yet? Not yet but I am about 100 pages from the end of The Power of Habit.

5. What book do you want to be reading to close out 2012? That’s a good question. I don’t know. Whatever it is, I want it to be a good read.

2nd Update

I’ve finished two books since my last update: The Power of Habit and Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. Both are really good books and brought my yearly book total to 250. Finally. Now I’m wondering if I should make another “books read” goal next year. And if so, what number?

Next up is Philip Pullman’s latest book, Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm. I’m homeschooling my youngest son and I want to re-read various fairy tales before I share them with him. I don’t plan on reading the whole book today since a few tales.

Jenn’s mini-questionnaire

1.  Have you napped yet? Or are you still going strong? I’m still going strong though I do take several breaks. I’m feeling a little sleepy right now so I’ll probably make me another pot of coffee.

2. Do you have a favorite book of 2012? If so, what is it? It’s hard to figure out a favorite book of the year. I don’t think I can pick just one.

3. Any reading goals for 2013?
I’ve been thinking about this question all day. I think instead of calling them reading goals, I’ll just call them “literary resolutions”. On the list: read from a bigger range of genres, read more from my tbr shelves, and read more books that are by LGBTQ writers or books that are LGBTQ related.

4. Is anyone listening to any audiobooks? Nope. If I listened to an audiobook right now, I would most likely fall asleep.

5. What book are you most excited about in 2013? That’s a great question. But seriously? I don’t know. There are so many great-looking books that I want to get to and many of them were published this year!

Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon

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

2^nd 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?

Read-a-thon: End of the Event Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  None. I went to sleep and totally forgot about the read-a-thon.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? A few titles off the top of my head: The Hunger Games, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (chunkster but a page turner), and Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The different hosts who alternated through the event. They kept things fresh.
5. How many books did you read?  I read five books, dnf one, and started two more.
6. What were the names of the books you read? The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett, Gideon by Olivier Dunrea, Gideon and Otto by Olivier Dunrea, Bake Sale by Sara Varon, and Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes by Jarrett Kroscoka. The DNF (did not finish) book was A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. The two books I started were Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman (for school) and MWF seeking BFF by Rachel Bertische.
7. Which book did you enjoy most? It’s probably a tie between The Wyrd Sisters and Bake Sale. 
8. Which did you enjoy least? A Homemade Life. I was expecting it to be more like Michael Lee West’s foodie memoir Consuming Passions but it’s not as interesting or funny. I should have just re-read Consuming Passions.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn’t a cheerleader this time around and I have no advice to give.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Very likely. I’ll probably sign up for a few committees and cheerlead next time.

A read-a-thon in bits and pieces: another update

In previous read-a-thons, I’ve signed up the second reader sign-ups were opened, gathered huge stacks of books to read, and tried to read the whole 24 hours. This season’s read-a-thon is being done pretty differently because I have some homework that I can’t ignore this weekend. Instead of doing the usual, I waited until the last minute to sign-up, gathered the smallest stack ever, and will read an hour here and there.

Here’s my read-a-thon stack:

• What to Look for in Winter: A Memoir in Blindness by Candia McWilliam
• MWF seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• Paying for It by Chester Brown
• Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Millar
• A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
• Inner Excavation: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry, and Mixed Media by Liz Lamoreux
• The Wyrd Sistersby Terry Pratchett (on my Nook)

I really plan on spending most of my time reading the first 100 pages of A Game of Thrones with M from Buried in Print for our read-along. I also plan on finishing The Wyrd Sisters too. Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I’ll read a few more books too?

—

Introductory Questionaire:

1. What part of the world are you reading from today? Southern California

2. Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Hmmm. . . maybe Game of Thrones but I am really curious about MWF seeking BFF.

3. Which snack are you most looking forward to? I’m going to say my coffee though I do plan on buying some delicious Florentines later from the bakery.

4. Tell us something about yourself. I’m a college student, a person who loves fall and winter, and making collages in my art journal though I don’t do it often enough.

 5. If you’ve participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you would do differently? I think the main thing is that I didn’t volunteer for anything this time around so I’m only participating as a reader.

My coffee pot’s stopped so I’m off to enjoy a cup of coffee. Are you read-a-thoning today?

Hours 4 and 5 Update

Finished: Wyrd Sisters. It was a nice book. I’m definitely going to read the next book in the series later on.

Up Next: My psych textbook and a few journal articles. I need to write two small papers this weekend. After that, I’m hoping to read Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux. It’s a book about art journaling. It’s either that or The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Food: 3 cups of coffee and some dirty rice.

Blogs visited/comments left: Anywhere between 20-30.

Where I’m currently reading at: My desk. Later I’ll probably go read in bed. I’m getting a little sleepy. More coffee? :-)

Hour 12 Update

I haven’t finished a book since my last update. I ended up taking a three-hour nap. I just made the kids hamburgers and cleaned up a bit so now I’m back.

Currently reading: Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenburg

Food: Hamburgers including one with a fried egg and another one with bacon, eggs, and cheese.

Reading spot: I’m still at my desk.

Blogs visited/comments left: 10?

Mid-Event Survey

1. How are you doing? Are you sleepy? Tired? I’m doing pretty good so far. It might be because I’m on my fifth cup of coffee. ;-)

2. What have you finished reading?  To keep myself going, I started reading children’s books about an hour ago. So far I’ve read Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett,  Gideon by Olivier Dunrea, Gideon and Otto by Olivier Dunrea, Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes by Jarrett J. Krosoczka,  and several pages in Games of Thrones. I’m pretty disappointed but I don’t plan to stop reading until tomorrow night at least.

3. What is your favorite read so far? Wyrd Sisters though I though the Gideon books were sweet.

4. What about your favorite snacks? Florentines!

5. How you found any new blogs during the read-a-thon? A few but I haven’t really been visiting new blogs.

Untitled

Amanda over at Dead White Guys is hosting the Belated Readathon this weekend. The event is from Saturday morning to Sunday morning but I’m starting now and will probably spend all of Sunday reading. I’m hoping to make a dent in some random tbr pile that’s hanging out around my house.  I’ll use this post to make updates.

Right now I’m reading Americus by MK Reed and Jonathan Hill.  It’s the story of a bookworm who lives in a small town. His best friend is forced to go to military school and now some of the local parents are trying to ban his favorite series from the library.  I’m still in the beginning of the book so we’ll see how it goes.

What are you reading this weekend?

 

1st Update- Saturday morning

Just Finished Americus. It’s a great read for any bookworm who’s ever felt out of place, which is basically everyone. Now I’m reading Fante: A Family’s Legacy of Writing, Drinking, and Surviving by Dan Fante. I haven’t read anything by the author’s famous father, John Fante, yet but this book sounded too good to pass up.

 

2nd update – Saturday 4:30PM

Dan Fante and I are not getting along right now. I’m enjoying the writing but I’m tired of reading about his father, John Fante. That man was an asshole! I want to read more about the author and less about Old Man Fante. There are some great lines like this one, “Eddie had graduated from this second-rate trade, but once carny gets into your blood it says like a bad case of herpes”.  But that’s not enough so after hours of going back and forth with this book, I’m putting it aside. Now I’m reading Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. It’s a MG (middle grade) read that’s been picked as a best of 2011 for several lists. So far, so good.

I’m up! I’m up! 24-Hour Read-a-thon

I woke up late but I’m here! Last night was the wrong night to have insomnia.

1st Hour Meme:

1. Where are you reading from? Southern California

2. Three random facts about me? I’m a huge daydreamer; I own a red and white men’s beach cruiser that I’ve named Dorothy, and I’ve donated more than 100 books to my local thrift store and public library this year.

3. How many books do you have in your tbr pile for the next 24 hours? 17 though that number will probably increase.

4. Any goals for the read-a-thon? Nope!

5. If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice to people doing this for the first time? Have fun and don’t put any pressure on yourself. This is a great event to make new friends at.

My first book of the day:

Can you believe the first hour is almost up? *sigh* Happy reading to all the read-a-thoners!

Update the 2nd:

It’s 4.5 hours into the read-a-thon. I’ve finished Anya’s Ghost, ate breakfast (oatmeal with light brown sugar), and took a shower. I’ve also left a ton of comments on readers’ blog, (who knew there are so many bloggers whose names start with M).  Now I plan on starting Habibi by Craig Thompson.

Thank you to everyone who’s commenting here. I appreciate it!

Update the 3rd:

I’ve just finished Habibi by Craig Thompson. I think I like it more than Goodbye, Chunky Rice and Blankets, two of Thompson’s earlier books. It’s an ambitious book that the author has put a lot into. I knew it was a big book but I didn’t bother to check the number of pages. I’ve also read Lenore Look’s Love as Strong as Ginger, which is about the author’s grandmother and the back-breaking work she used to do in a crab factory in San Francisco, CA.  It’s a lovely book.

The stats:

• 3 books
• 928 pages total
• I left a ton of comments (at least 100)

So now I’m off for coffee and a quick nap. I know that sounds funny but trust me, it works.  If you’re participating in the read-a-thon, how are you doing?

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. It was an impulse download from the library.

2. How many books have you read so far? 3

3. What book are you most looking forward to reading in the second half of the read-a-thon? Maybe the short stories. I have a ton of them on my Edison (Kobo e-reader).

4. Did you make special arrangements to free up your whole day? Nope. I just told everyone that today is the read-a-thon. They know what that means – don’t mess up with Momma!

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with them? I haven’t had many interruptions. I went to the grocery store. That’s it.

6. What surprises you most about the read-a-thon so far? Nothing! It’s a great event. I think one of the things I love so much about this event is that it’s a great opportunity to make friends with bloggers who probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.

7. Any suggestions on how to improve the read-a-thon next year? Maybe we can be more aggressive in getting publishers to donate prizes?

8. What would you do differently, as a reader or cheerleader, if you were to participate again next year? Nothing.

9. Are you tired yet? I was tired earlier but I’m not anymore.

10. Any tips? Relax, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and short books are always good to have.

Readathon: End of the Event Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting to you? Hour 15. It was daunting because I put the kids to bed, thinking I would go back and read. Instead I ended up going to sleep and waking up five minutes before the read-a-thon ended. Second time in a row that happened.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The Hunger Games trilogy, picture books, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson. . . anything short is always helpful.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Can a link for the cheer-leading blog be included on the read-a-thon main blog?

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Everything!

5. How many books did you read? 4 1/2

6. What were the names of the books you read? And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman, Amulet 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi, Amulet 2: The Stonekeeper’s Curse by Kazu Kibuishi, Amulet 3: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi.

7. What book did you enjoy most? And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman

8. Which did you enjoy least? None. They were all good reads.

9. If you were a cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s cheerleaders? Have fun!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Very likely! I plan on being a reader and a cheerleader once again.

Read-a-thon: Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? Hamlet by Shakespeare.

2. How many books have you read so far? 4

3. What book are you most looking forward to reading for the second half of the read-a-thon? It’s a tie between Notes from No Man’s Land by Eula Biss and Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Nope. My family knows the deal when it comes to the read-a-thon. Besides my birthday, this is the only day I ever ask for myself.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How have you dealt with them? I’ve had plenty of interruptions with kids. I just handle them and keep going.

6. What surprises you most about the read-a-thon so far? That I’m not sick of reading yet. I usually need to rest my eyes around this time.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the read-a-thon next year? Nope. It’s perfect as usual.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Not one thing.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Yep! I’m pretty tired now but it’s nothing that a cup of hot strong coffee can’t handle!

10.  Do you have any tips for Readers or Cheerleaders? If you’re a Reader and on Twitter, jump in on read-a-thon conversations, cheer on complete strangers who are also participating, and have fun. You’ll be sure to make new friends.

Read-a-thon Mid-Event Challenge

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? Tofu Quilt by Ching Yeung Russell

2. How many books have you read so far? I’ve read 4-ish books so far:

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Black is for Beginnings by Laure Faria Stolarz

The Good Neighbors book 1: Kin by Holly Black

The Good Neighbors book 2: Kith by Holly Black

still reading The Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I don’t know. I have a lot of great books in my read-a-thon pile. Maybe The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie or Falling In by Frances O’Roark Dowell.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No, just included the kids in my read-a-thon plans.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Having kids there are bound to be interruptions. I just dealt with them and went back to reading. I think the trick is not to put too much pressure on myself.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? Nothing so far. I know with every read-a-thon I’m going to meet and make new blogging friends.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope. It’s pretty perfect.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I was both  a reader and a cheerleader, and there’s nothing I would do differently.

9. Are you getting tired yet? I did get tired the last hour, so I stopped reading to cheer people on and also clean up around the house.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? One of the tips I can’t give to people enough is to relax, have fun, and remember to read short books.

Read-a-thon update: Hour 8

I can’t believe it’s the 8th hour of the read-a-thon. Time is going by so fast. If this keeps up the read-a-thon will be over in no time. I’m having fun reading and cheering others on on Twitter and through blogs. Right now I’m reading my third book: The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. It’s going slower than I expected but I am starting to enjoy it. The kids were reading with me, but they’ve all given up. I’m just glad that they woke up to join me.  I think during the next hour I’ll change books and start on some of the picture books that I have laying around that I need to read. Happy reading!

Hour 17 Update

Books read since last update: 4 (Amulet 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi, Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen, Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and Imogene’s Antlers by David Small)

Total books read: 6

Pages read: Have no idea. I quit counting.

Now reading: Amulet 2: The Stonekeeper’s Curse by Kazu Kuibuishi

Mini-challenges participated in: 4?

Latest meal: Hash browns and sausages

I just finished the book club meeting with my son. We had a lot of fun reading and discussing Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Imogene’s Antlers by David Small (an old favorite of mine), and Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen. Yolen is easily becoming one of my favorite authors.

Surprisingly I’m not tired yet, but I am prepared to read in bed if I have to go lie down with the kids later. I still have a ton of great books I’m looking forward to and I’m officially done cheerleading for the night so I’m not going to bed anytime soon. If you don’t see any more updates, I’m in bed. Hopefully awake.

Happy reading!

Break time or good night?

Okay, read-a-thoners, it’s been great but I’m going to have to say goodnight. Either that or take a break. My youngest is ready to go to bed and he still wants us to have our nightly book club meeting. I’m still reading Amulet 1: The Stonekeeper’s Curse by Kazu Kuibuishi. I don’t plan on going to bed until the read-a-thon is over so you’ll probably see me later.

Readathon: A Musicial Mini-Challenge

Jill at Fizzy Thoughts wrote:

I know a lot of readers are also fans of music. So for this mini-challenge we’re going to give our eyes a break and focus on our ears. I’d like you to post a song that reminds you of the read-a-thon, or that you love to read to, or that makes you think of a particular book. You can either embed a video of the song, or post the lyrics. And don’t forget to include a sentence or two as to why you’re sharing that particular song! Easy-peasie, right? Originally, I was thinking of making you run a marathon, but I thought this might go over a bit better.

I needed a boast during the last hour. So when Miley Cyrus’s new single “Party in the U.S.A.” came on, it was just what I needed for energy. The kids and I got up and just danced. After the song ended I had more energy to keep going. I’m not a Miley Cyrus fan but the kids are and they love this song. So here it is, “Party in the U.S.A.” :

Hour 13

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? The Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi.

2. How many books have you read so far?2.  Angels in America by Tony Kushner and The Professor’s Daughter by Joann Sfar. Both great reads.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? All of them. They’re all great reads. Can’t pick just one.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Nope. I just kept the kids preoccupied by making them tents in the living room, feeding them, and letting them watch cartoons all day. I’ll make it up to them tomorrow after I wake up.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A ton. The kids interrupted plus I felt like I was getting sick earlier.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How many people signed up this time. It’s amazing. Dewey would be so happy.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? None. It’s perfect!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Wake up on time instead of oversleeping.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Not really though I know I will need a nap sooner or later.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Have fun. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else participating. That’s not the point of this event.

Readathon: First update

Hour: 7

Books finished: 0 (I spent most of that time cheerleading. I just switched with Trish so now I’m reading for the next six hours.)

Reading: Angels in America by Tony Kushner

Pages read: 126

Food: Two cups of coffee, a cup of dry Frosted Flakes and I’m about to dig into some sloppy joes.

Blogs visited: 75

Wish me luck!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!

It’s official. Dewey’s 24-hour read-a-thon has started!I’m just waking up but that’s not’s going to stop me. My first book is:

Angels in America by Tony Kushner

Intro Post

Where are you reading from today? Long Beach, California. I’ll probably either be reading from my computer desk or at my kitchen table.

3 facts about me: I’m a single mother of three beautiful kids, a college student, and a future librarian.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 62 but I’m definitely not going to read that many.

Goals for the read-a-thon: To read 13 books

As a veteran read-a-thoner, my advice: Have fun!

Read-a-thon Update #2

What hour is it right now? 7

Currently reading: Queens: Portraits of Black Women and their Fabulous Hair by Michael Cunningham and George Alexander.

Summary: Told in photos and essays by various women around the world, this book is about the relationship black women have with their hair. Each woman tells an autobiographical “hair story”. Hair plays a big role in a woman’s life and the way you wear your hair represents different things to different people.

One of my favorite passages is in the author’s note because what he says is so true:

I learned that, particularly for Black women, hair is so much more than just hair. Hair has the ability to unleash all of life’s deepest emotions. Hair is about identity, beauty, racial pride, race politics, self-acceptance, self-expression, self-realization, class, status, fun, glamour, romance, fantasy, art, passion, joy, pain, freedom, enslavement, power. Hair can be all those things and more.

Pages read: 126

Total pages read: 344

Total books read: 1

Dewey’s Read-a-thon Update #1

Currently reading: I have no idea what’s next

Books Read: 1: The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Also read the short story, “The Bloody Chamber” by Angela Carter (42 pages)

Pages read: 176

Total pages read: 218

One book down, at least nine to go.

Good morning everyone!

I just woke up and though I’m still waiting for my coffee pot to finish brewing, I’m going to visit everyone who’s awake and cheer you guys on. My plan was to wake up at 4 this morning and start back reading, but my body rejected that idea. Since we have three hours left, I also plan on getting some reading in. My coffee’s ready!!

What hour is this? update

Books read: 2

Pages read: 27

Pages total: 389

Prizes won: 0, so far.

I am finally becoming tired. It’s almost 11p.m. Pacific. The house is so still and quiet. I would love to take advantage of this time but I rather sleep. I have Black Eyed Peas playing in my ear at a very loud volume so I can stay awake for a couple of minutes more. This challenge has been so great with so many people cheering each other on and leaving comments. Goodnight!

Congrats, Sean!

Hour 13 update

Books read: 2
Pages read: 30
Total pages read: 368
Mini-challenges: 5?

I’m surprised that I’ve managed to read 30 pages this hour though I’m hosting my poetry mini-challenge. Not bad. I hope to read at least 100 pages in the next hour. Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos is going pretty well. I’m also listening to music and drinking Dr. Pepper to stay awake for a little while longer. I’m going to sleep at 11p.m. then wake up around 4a.m. to finish reading.

Read-a-thon Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers. It’s a young adult novel, that’s pretty interesting already.

2. How many books have you read so far? So far I’ve completed two, is midway through one, and just started Theodosia.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? The memoir, Comfort by Ann Hood, V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? There’s no way to free up my Saturdays with Saturdays being the busiest day of the week for both the love of my life and my mom, but I made sure that the kids had plenty of snacks and things to do.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I constantly have interruptions with so many kids here, but it’s not a problem. I don’t feel any pressure at all with this challenge.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? There are so many people cheering you on and there’s no pressure to have a certain amount of pages or books read.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? None. This year’s Read-a-thon has been pretty fun.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Nothing

9. Are you getting tired yet? A little but that’s what coffee’s for.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Just relax and have fun. If you need to take a break, take one.

Hour 11 update

Books read: 2

Pages read: 36

Total pages: 338

Prizes won: 0 *sigh*

Mini-challenges: still 4

Currently reading: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers

Thank God, the kids will be going to sleep soon. I feel like putting on another cup of coffee.

Update

Books read: 2
Pages read: 104
Total pages read: 320
Mini-challenges: 4

I have no idea what hour this is. Hour 8, right? Time is speeding by and I’m reading, playing with the kids, relaxing, listening to music . . . I even managed to squeeze in a nap. Right now I’m reading Lynda Barry’s graphic novel/memoir 100 Demons about her tragic, yet funny childhood.

Update, Hour 6

So far:

Books read – 2

Total pages read – 214

Mini-challenge completed: 4

It feels so crazy to me that we’ve been doing the Read-a-thon for seven hours now. It doesn’t feel that way. Though next year I will have a laptop so I can sit outside, read, and cheer.

I just finished reading Ann Patchett’s What Now? It’s an extension of the graduation speech she spoke at Sarah Lawrence a while back. I really liked. It reminds me of Anna Quindlen’s A Short Guide to a Happy Life. My favorite quote from the book is:

“What now is not just a panic-stricken question tossed out into a dark unknown. What now can also be our joy. It is a declaration of possibility, of promise, of chance. It acknowledges that our future is open, that we may do more than anyone expected of us, that at every point in our development we are still striving to grow. There’s a time in our lives when we all crave the answers. It seems terrifying not to know what’s coming next. But there is another time, a better time, when we see our lives as a series of choices, and What now represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life. It’s up to you to choose a life that will keep expanding. It takes discipline to remain curious . . . “

Hour 3 Update

Books read:1
Pages read total: 117

I finished Eclipse finally 20 minutes ago. It isn’t as good as Twilight, but it is better than New Moon.

Next up is: What Now? by Ann Patchett

Hour 2

Books read: 0
Pages read 43
Mini-challenge completed: now 2

I’m still reading Eclipse and printing out coloring pages for the kids. They’re being pretty good, coloring, watching SpongeBob and torturing each other. What more can a girl ask for? Later I’m going to take them to the park and read there. I’m getting a little ticked off that Bella cries so much.

Readathon, Hour 1

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: 37

Mini-Challenges Completed: 1

Right now I’m near the end of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. I have been running all around the house. I have coloring pages printed for the kids and with five here, I’m settling disputes between them. I have less than 100 pages to go before I finish this book and I plan to in the next hour.