A little Readathon Update

Hello to any who might stop by to cheer or who are just generally curious about the readathon's progress.

What is a readathon? It's a time twice a year when a group of biblioholics attempt to read for 24 hours. I usually make it for like 10 hours.

I have finished my current read, She Walks in Beauty and am moving on to this week's portion of Gone With the Wind. After that? There's no telling what I'll read!

I will probably just update this post if anything of interest happens...what plans do you all have? Will you be reading?

Update at 1:50 PM PST--Have read about 4 chapters of Gone with the Wind and passed out for a little nap. I seem to be getting old...I can no longer read for great lengths of time without sleeping!

Update at 5:50 PM PST: Man I'm a slow reader! Finished up to where I'm supposed to be in Gone with the Wind. Started Fireworks Over Toccoa Waiting on pizza. :)

Update at 11:06 PM: Okay I'm not really a hardcore readathoner. I totally watched a movie for a break, but I did finish Fireworks over Toccoa and now will try to read Love is the Higher Law before bed!

Wrapping up my 14 Hour Readathon

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
erm, the first hour? I was still sleeping in my bed! :)
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I really enjoyed The Broken Teaglass, but for me, the key is to read several different kinds of books.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Not really...I think it's important for each person to individualize the experience to get as much out of it for them personally
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Actually for me, it worked well to not try to do 24 hours but to start at a comfortable time, schedule some breaks and go to bed at a decent time. I still got a lot of great reading time in, but I also still really enjoyed every part of it.
5. How many books did you read?
2 and a 1/2. Or about 900 pages.
6. What were the names of the books you read?
The Broken Teaglass, A Little Help from my Friends, Japan Took the J.A.P. out of Me
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
The Broken Teaglass...it was a little bit mysterious, a little bit funny, with fantastic characterization and writing
8. Which did you enjoy least?
Japan Took the J.A.P. out of me...I couldn't stop being offended by the narrator...will share many many thoughts in my full review.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I will participate if it's a date that works for me....ever since I heard of the Readathon I have participated--I've been lucky that way that's it's always worked out. I love having the time to read and knowing that 300 other passionate readers are reading as well. It really is so much fun.

A huge thanks to everyone behind the scenes who organized the event, Trish, Ana, Hannah, and Eva, all the mini-challenge hosts, and all the people who did little things here and there. It is very much noticed and deeply appreciated.

Read-a-thon Debriefing

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Strangely enough, about two hours before the end. I was reading Dedication, which while being a good book, was not a keep you up all night to finish book.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I don't think any of the books I read were high interest! I recommend really light, short, or page turning like Harry Potter or something.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I thought it was great.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I think having plenty of mini-challenges that aren't too challenging. Of course, part of the reason I participated is because I wanted to see what it would feel like to read for that long and how much I could accomplish. The truth is, it's impossible to just keep reading. You need to check in on every one else's progress for encouragement and obviously you need to eat, and sometimes I also felt like I needed to blast some music. :)

5. How many books did you read? Only 5. My goal was 6. I'm bummed.

6. What were the names of the books you read? Act Two by Kimberly Stuart, Dirty Girls on Top by Alicia Valdes Rodriguez, Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray, These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson, and Dedication by the Nanny Diaries people.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? Either Act Two or These Boots Weren't Made for Walking.

8. Which did you enjoy least? Dedication...too serious. (why does the blurb say it's hilarious????)

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'd like to participate again, but next time I might sleep. I'm wondering what sort of shape I'm going to be in tomorrow. I might try to convince a friend to do it with me next time. I need more friends who like to read.

Ok, got some cleaning up to do, and then I think I'm going to watch a movie!!!!!! :)

Last Check-In

This might be my last update as I have a feeling I will be closing my eyes as soon as I finish my current book, which while interesting, isn't necessarily a page turner. I'll post my wrap-up later tonight, when I'm refreshed.

Finished 4th book

Just finished up my fourth book. Looks like I'll only be able to finish five. I'm a slower reader than I thought!

I'm not too tired either, so I think I'm going to make it! :) And then sleep all day!

Update and Revising my Goals

Ok, I've ditched the non-fiction goal. Just. Not. Happening.

I moved onto some chick lit, and might stay there till the end. I brought the wrong Graham Greene book with me and besides, I think that's a bit too heavy for my Diet Mt. Dew saturated, sleep deprived brain.

By the way, thanks to the cheerleaders and commentors you are guys are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Only Poem I have Memorized

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay. --Robert Frost

I still love this poem. I know the challenge was to find a poem, but I wanted to share one of my favorites. I have bits and pieces of other poems memorized, but this one I know in its entirety.

Thanks to N.Vasillis for hosting this mini challenge.

Mini Challenge Hour 12 Mid-point survey

1. What are you reading right now? Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray

2. How many books have you read so far? 2 finished and this is my third

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I haven't decided what else to read! I want to choose carefully.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Actually, this weekend worked perfectly, I'm housesitting and all by myself.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Not many, just a neighbor dropping by.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How I'm sort of craving watching a movie right now! I read so much in my daily life (it's also part of my job) and have actually fantasized about having a solid day to read the many books I want to that I didn't realize how tired I would get!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, I think it's super fun the way it is!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I might stock up on YA books with tons of angst, and leave the books that must be reviewed out of it.

9. Are you getting tired yet? YES! It's only 8:30 but I've been reading since 9 this morning. Reading always makes me sort of zone out and sleepy, so it's not surprising. (by the way there is no way I'm telling my students this is what I did this weekend....they never read for pleasure and already think I'm a huge nerd!)

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? Um, nope, ask me again at the end. :)

Second Book Finished!

I finally finished Dirty Girls on Top, it seemed to take forever. ;) But it was longer than the first book.

I'm taking a little breather now, much as I love reading, 24 hours is pretty intense!

Update

Ok, it's going to take me a bit longer to finish my current book, Dirty Girls on Top, which I received as Library Thing Early Reviewer. It's funny but has a bit more sex in it than I generally like.

I just fixed myself a huge veggie plate and a big glass of Diet Mountain Dew. I visited a few readers as part of a mini challenge and now I'm ready to get back to reading!

Finished a book!

I just finished my first book, Act 2 by Kimberly Stuart, which was very delightful and laugh out loud funny.

It took a little longer than I expected because I kept checking blogs. So I'm going to need to stop that if I want to meet my goal. ;)

Readathon: Introductory Meme

This is my first mini challenge! It's an introductory meme hosted by Reading Derby.

Where are you reading from today? I'm housesitting and reading from there.

3 facts about me:
1) I work in a literacy and English language acquisition program.
2) I've lived on both coasts and the middle of this country.
3) I bought 3 2 liters of Diet Mt. Dew to make it through the readathon!

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? I have 18 books in my TBR, but realistically expect to finish 6.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
6 books. 1 non-fiction. 1 for my 1% well read challenge.

Any advice for people doing this for the first time? This is my first time!