Dewey's 24 Hr Readathon! Update Post

 

Time to kick off the readathon! Like last time, I'm going to update the same post so everything's organized in one spot (hopefully), with the latest updates at the top. Enjoy!

Thank you to all the amazing Dewey folks who make the Readathon possible!  It's always a fun event and the challenges this time around were great. Very engaging. I'm glad to participate as a reader and unofficial cheerleader. xoxo

Hour 24: End of Event

Hour 24 Update
Books completed: almost 5 (3 children's picture books, 2 middle grades), titles listed below in the "End of Event" Meme
Pages read: 558
Time spent reading: 5.5 hours
Time spent blogging/completing challenges/cheering: 4.5 hours
Where I'm reading: at home on the couch
Snacks: hot chocolate, popsicle, cereal 

End of Event Meme:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 21 was tough. I almost stayed up to hour 22, but couldn't make it.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and The Bad Beginnings (A Series of Unfortunate Events, 1) by Lemony Snicket kept me both interested.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? There were a few minor linking issues (i.e. 404 errors), but other than that, nope.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I like the format of the hourly posts. It was organized so you could easily find the current mini-challenges and door prize winners.
5. How many books did you read? I fell asleep on my 5th book (mind you 3 were children's picture books).
6. What were the names of the books you read? Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Retold by Mary Hollingsworth, The Berenstain Bears Storybook Treasury by Stan & Jan Berenstain, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket.
7. Which book did you enjoy most? The Berestain Bears Storybook Treasury because I loved that series so much as a kid.
8. Which did you enjoy least? Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Retold by Mary Hollingsworth. I get it was originally written a while back, but that giant was a little too creepy for me (i.e. man who watches/kisses kids creepy).
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't officially a cheerleader, but I recommend cheering on folks who participated in the later hour challenges. You know they're up and need that extra little nudge.
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 definitely participate in the readathon again. I hope to be able to devote more time reading and some time cheering.  

Hour 20: Update

Well, I honestly didn't stay up all this time.  I napped for about 4 hours. Then had my snack (below) and cheered on a bunch of the recent mini-challenge participants---You folks are doing awesome! Not sure if I'll read much more, but I intend to unofficially cheer a little be longer. Keep it going all! Gotta love the Dewey experience. :)

Currently Reading: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket (many other folks are reading it so I figured I'd give it a re-read).
Books completed: 4 (3 children's picture books, 1 middle grades)

•  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Retold by Mary Hollingsworth
• The Berenstain Bears Storybook Treasury by Stan & Jan Berenstain
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Pages read: 502
Time spent reading: 5 hours
Time spent blogging/completing challenges/cheering: 3.5 hours
Where I'm reading: at home on the couch
Snacks: cereal, my usual middle of the night snack.

Hour 18 TBR Challenge: I almost missed this challenge but got my comment in under the time deadline.  I love this ridiculously huge Mt. TBR pic! My guess was 910.

Hour 15: Update & 2 Mini Challenges!

Books read: almost 4 (3 children's books, 1 middle grades)

•  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Retold by Mary Hollingsworth
• The Berenstain Bears Storybook Treasury by Stan & Jan Berenstain
• Almost finished with Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Pages read: 462
Time spent reading: 4 hours
Where I'm reading: at home on the couch
Snacks:  Cherry popsicle  :)

Hour 15: That Reminds Me Of A Book Challenge - My response:
I’m almost finished reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. A heart attack kills the pilot flying the single engine plane which Brian is the only passenger. Miraculously, he survives a crash landing in a dense Canadian wilderness and is left only with a hatchet (This happens in the first few chapters, so really no spoiler here). Anyway, there’s a lake (not huge, but big enough) and dense trees. I think this picture displays Brian’s remote environment the best. It doesn’t have majestic mountains like other Canadian lake pics.  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/164944405072650339/

Name in Titles Challenge:  Objective = Spell out your name in book titles. I went through my shelves and found these titles, each first letter spells out Michelle!

M - Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison
I - Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
C - Chosen (The Lost Books, 1) by Ted Dekker
H - Hourglass by Myra McEntire
E - Eve & Adam by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate
L - Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
L - Lullaby by Amanda Hocking
E - Elixir by Hilary Duff

Hour 12: Mid-Event Update

While most folks are probably hitting the exhaustion/break stage, I'm back to focusing on the readathon. I attended an awesome bridal shower and now I'm ready to commit at least 3-4 hours to reading/posting. 

Mid-Event Survey
1. What are you reading right now? Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
2. How many books have you read so far? I finished 3 short children's books and I'm on a middle grades classic now.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I'm hoping to finish Hatchet. Anything else would be icing on the cake.
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Sadly, I couldn't free up all day. Hopefully next time.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Yep, traveled an hour (each way) to attend a bridal shower. Couldn't miss it.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Not much...I've participated in it a bunch of times so far. Maybe a surprise is still in store.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Not yet, as I'm getting back into the swing of the event.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Hopefully next time I'll have a open schedule so I can complete multiple (middle grades or YA books).
9. Are you getting tired yet? Nope, but as a mom-to-be, I'll probably be exhausted by 10 pm (in 3 hours).
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?  Enjoy the musical interludes. If you have a favorite music video that inspires you, play it on a loop until you're energized again. That's helped in the past.

Hour 2: Update & Pick A Paragraph

Books read: 3 (all children's books)

•  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Retold by Mary Hollingsworth
• The Berenstain Bears Storybook Treasury by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Pages read: 280
Time spent reading: 1 hour
Where I'm reading: at home on the couch
Snacks:  Hot chocolate...yum!

Hour 2 Challenge: Pick A Paragraph. I posted a paragraph from my current read, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. “It was a clear, blue-sky day with fluffy bits of clouds here and there and he looked out the window for a moment, hoping to see something, a town or village, but there was nothing. Just the green of the trees, endless green, and lakes scattered more and more thickly as the plane flew—where?” p. 15-16

Hour 0: Intro Meme

Yes, there's a pre-readathon meme...love it!  Here are the questions:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?  
Philadelphia, PA, USA! I have a bridal shower to go to today out in the burbs so when I'm not out and about, I'll be reading from my comfy couch at home.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Obligatory book pic:

 

Since I'm a soon-to-be mom, I'm looking forward to reading (or re-reading) some of the baby books I received, including Where the Wild Things Are, Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant, and The Berenstain Bears Storybook Treasury. From the middle grades pile, I'll probably only have time to read one, most likely Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?   
My pantry and fridge are pretty bare, but I'm obsessed with popsicles right now so I'll enjoy a few of them.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!  
My little dude is due to join us in just over 3 weeks! I'm super excited and nervous to become a mom. I can't wait to read to him. I hope he inherits my love for reading. :) 
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I participated 2 years ago (wow, I can't believe it's been that long). I didn't cheer many other readers on last time so I hope to do more of that this year. Have fun everyone!

Dewey's Readathon is back!

Another long lapse in time for my blog. Real life just took over: graduating, moving across the country, settling into a new job, etc. Now I'm a soon-to-be mom who moved back home to be closer to family and waiting for the next insane chapter of life to begin (very soon).

But whenever Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-thon comes back around, I want to dust off the my keyboard, pull out a pile of books and share my bookish thoughts to you all! The readathon starts tomorrow morning (at 8 am for me), however, I can't devote all day to it.  I hope to start (maybe a little early) and will definitely spend a few hours participating in the evening. I'm going to a friend's bridal shower so most of my day will be away from my books and computer.  But I can't wait to read some, post a few times, and cheer on other readers.  Time to browse through my books.  Until tomorrow! :) 

Dewey Read-a-thon Progress

Ok, it's just after 8am est and Dewey has officially started!  I'm going to edit this post with reading updates and mini-challenges. Come on back to check it out.

Hour 1: Introduction Questions
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Philly suburbs, Pennsylvania
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Suzanne Collins' Gregor The Overlander. I don't have any reading plans set. I just pulled some of the shorter looking books from my shelf.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
I'm visiting one of my BookCrossing friends later tonight.  Hopefully we can participate in a mini-challenge together! Anyway, she made some cinnamon noodle kugel that I'm dying to try.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I'm almost finished my Master of Library Science degree, so I'm looking for librarian positions. Yay! Can't wait to land the perfect job! Hopefully...
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I'm not going to stress about finding time to read.  I'm just gonna have fun and enjoy the ride. Whatever happens, happens.   

Hour 23: Mad Lib
I used words from that book I'm reading called Stuff We All Get by K. L. Denman.

This nostril is old school! Zach has never pawed so much.
The stuff I'm currently walking is foggy and restless.
When this is over, I will shrug for 3 months. 

Hour 24: End of Event

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  I started to fall asleep in Hour 19.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?  I recommend Alice Hoffman books. I read Indigo this time around. I've read Green Angel and Green Witch. They are short, memorizing reads.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Do not make plans during the read-a-thon.  It will take up more time than you intend to spend away from reading.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
5. How many books did you read?  1 complete book and parts of 2 other books.
6. What were the names of the books you read?  I completed Indigo by Alice Hoffman. I read parts of Stuff We All Get by K. L. Denman and Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins. I have free time today, so I'm going to finish them. It will be read-a-thon part 2 for me.  :)
7. Which book did you enjoy most?  I have to say Indigo since I'm not finished the others.
8. Which did you enjoy least?  None...can I say that?  It might be Stuff We All Get because it's more realistic fiction and I'm a sucker for fantasy.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? Not a cheerleader this year.  I'll try to cheer more next time around.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?  Of course!  Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon is a tradition for me. Til we meet again in October...happy reading!  :)

Great moments of the Read-a-thon:
 - Favorite videos: Hour 17's Gimme Gimme Gimme Jane Austen Men video (so great! I love these guys), Hour 15's Rock n' Rock Readers (I'm making an appearance at the library)
- Hour 9's Do the Dumbledore...it works so well when you're listening to music in the video clips.  Thanks for the laugh.
- I need to remember the first lines of the books I read....I can't believe I didn't recognize Tuck Everlasting.
-  My friend's noodle kugel (my read-a-thon snack) was AMAZING! 
-  I really enjoyed Alice Hoffman's Indigo.  Ok, I've only read like three other Alice Hoffman books, but she is officially on my list of favorite authors.

Some Wrap-Up Read-a-thon Stats:  7 hours participation, that includes about 5 hours reading and 2 hours blogging, catching up on the hourly updates and participating in challenges.  Read about 154 pages....really that seems very low. Oh, well...things to work on next time.  As I mentioned before, I don't have anything on the schedule today so I'm going to continue reading and look at any read-a-thon content I missed.  Thanks to all the Dewey volunteers for hosting awesome challenges and keeping us inspired (and awake).  

Dewey (and I) are back!

I dropped the ball once again with my posting.  I could list all my excuses why I've been a bad blogger but I don't want to waste your time. Instead I want to tell you why I'm back....today is the semi-annual Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon!  I love this event.  It's always so much fun and really great people come out to cheer you on.  If you have any time to spare today, join up and read....or at least show some love as a cheerleader.

My goals are small since I have other plans for part of the day.  I'll shoot for 8 hours of reading and say 300 pages.  I'll check in periodically and participate in some of the awesome mini-challenges. 

Happy readings!

2011 Wrap Up, Part 1

Happy New Year all!  I'm excited for 2012 because it'll bring some awesome book releases to look forward to....and some life changes as well (graduation, hopefully a new job, and possibly a move).   

Here's Part 1 of my 2011 recap, which includes my challenge results.  I'll post Part 2 soon.  It features my favorites and not-so-favorite reads from the past year. 

2011 Recap:

- I read 58 books this year, which is up from 53 last year.

- I quietly had my one year blog anniversary in April 2011. I promise to actually celebrate it this year.

- Started my second year of graduate school in the fall.  I only have two semesters left!  I'll finish my Masters in Library Science (MLS) this summer.  Thus, I'll be looking for a new job as a librarian (preferable for fall, if the stars align and luck is on my side....too dramatic?).

- I celebrated my second anniversary on BookCrossing in August.  I joined in August 2009.

- Participated in one 24-hour Dewey read-a-thon this year.  I couldn't participate in the October read-a-thon because I was out of town visiting a friend.

- Sadly, I didn't complete any books in June.  I had a crazy busy summer semester (only six weeks long) that caused a major leisure reading road block.  Hopefully, I won't repeat it this year.

-  In November, I read the most books that I've ever read in one month, 13!  I was on a Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins binge.

- Near the end of the year, I focused on new releases from 2011.  I loved it!  There are so many awesome first books of series out.

Reading Challenges:

2011 Pages Read Challenge: Last year I didn't reach my pages read goal, so I decided to shoot for the same number this year: 15,000 pages.  I actually reached it this time!!!  My final tally was 16,101 pages, 107% of my goal.  Yahoo!  I even read more pages that I didn't count...including my 400+ page textbook and a few books I disliked enough not to finish (cough...The Thirteen Hallows...cough). 

Read Ten 1001-Books Challenge:  Epic fail! I only read five 1001-books this year. I'll try it again this year.

• Erewhon by Samuel Butler.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
• The Wonderful O by James Thurber
• The 13 Clocks by James Thurber

A-Z Read & Release Challenge: Another fail!  I haven't done anything with this ongoing BookCrossing challenge for a number of reasons.  First, a majority of the books I read this year were library books so they can't be registered.  A few registered books I releases were repeat letters (G and R). I'll keep my eye out for books that fit into this release challenge, but I'm not gonna sweat over it. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my 2011 Wrap Up and my 2012 Goals post!

Reading Challenges Update and HP Deathly Hallows Pt.2

My summer semester is over!  WooHoo!  When I got home from work each day, grad school stuff enveloped all my time.  The summer semester was condensed and intensive.  The last six weeks was full of writing discussion board posts, researching legislative histories, reading scholarly articles and learning all about library reference.  I learned a lot this semester, but I'm so glad it's over.  Now I can get back to reading and BookCrossing...until the madness starts up again at the end of August.

I'm way behind on my reading challenges. Unbelievably, I didn't finish a book in June.  That's a first since I started to track of my books read in January 2010.  I began two books, but never got around to finishing them. I'll look out for any read-a-thons in the end of July or August to help get my reading goals back on track.

2011 Pages Read Challenge:
I really want to hit that 15,000 pages read goal, especially since I didn't make it last year. However, I'm further behind now that I was this time last year.  As of my last count (in the end of May), I'm at 4,645 pages read. That's only 30% of my goal.  Eek!  I have to step up my pace.

Read Ten 1001 Books Challenge:
I only read 1 book so far, Erewhon by Samual Butler (and I hated every moment of it). I'd like to read some Jane Austen, George Orwell, H.G. Wells, Margaret Atwood, and maybe even Franz Kafka if I'm feeling adventurous. I never like to list the next book I'll read because I always end up changing my mind.  I read whatever I crave in that moment.

A-Z New Author Read & Release Challenge:
It's been a while since I updated my list. This challenge takes so long because it only counts registered BookCrossing books that you read and release. So my library books and non-registered BC books don't count.  I completed 10 out of 26 letters so far. Here's the list.

Check out my Reading Challenges page for the lists of books I've read so far. 

On a completely different topic....

I'm going to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 midnight showing tonight!!!  I'm so excited to see it and I know I'll cry in the end.  With the last film, it feels like an era is ending.

I'm going with a group of people which is a first for me.  I usually go to midnight showings by myself because I can't find anyone to drag along with me.  Except of course for last year, when my husband and brother actually came with me for Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows.  When we got to the theater, there were firetrucks and hundreds of people outside all over the parking lot. Some idiot pulled the fire alarm before we got there and it was mayhem.  The theater had no idea how to handle the crowd and by the time they started to let people in, it was past midnight with huge unruly crowd of teenagers pushing and yelling.  What a nightmare!  We didn't stay that night, but were able to exchange our tickets that weekend.  In short, I'm not going back to that movie theater for a midnight showing ever again.

Here are some links to get you in the HP spirit:

Harry Potter Maize Maze (Technabob)
Harry Potter fans unite to end worldly evils (CBSnews)
Harry Potter Stars Felt "Weird" During Epilouge Scene (MTV) 
Harry Potter The Exhibition 
10 Things You Need to Know About "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (Moviefone)
9 Classic Album Covers Re-Imagined With "Harry Potter" Characters (nextmovie)

Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon, Part 3

Hour 20 Update:
- 8.5 hours of reading/4 hours blogging & challenges.
- I finished 2 books during this read-a-thon:
  The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman
  The Boxcar Children (#1) by Gertrude Chandler Warner.

I think I'm hitting that wall...bedtime is nearing.  I will add a final post soon, possibly after napping.  Keep going strong everyone.  I always enjoy this read-a-thon! :)

Hour 18 Update:
I'm still up at Hour 18!  It's nearly 2am (approaching hour 19) and I'm getting a little loopy. It's really hard to focus on reading.

- Reading 2nd book: The Boxcar Children (#1) by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
- 7 hours of reading for 248 pages...hmm, guess I'm still a bit distracted.  I wanted to be further, but I'm having fun anyway.
- I LOVE the Classic Paranormal Mashup mini-challenge. The mashup book title I came up with is Ethan Frome Hell. And with this mini-challenge, I hit my goal of participating in 5.

Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon, Part 2

Despite many distractions (errands, Mom visiting, and cooking dinner), I'm still reading.  OK, it's Hour 13 and I'm nowhere never my goals...but I've got all night.  Keep on going everyone! 

Hour 13 Update:

Hours Spent Reading: 3

Books Read: 1

   The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman (library hardback large print edition)

Pages Read: 141 pages

Mini-Challenges Completed:4
   1 - Intro
   2 - Where in the world are you reading?
  12- Mid-Event Survey
  13- Book Habits

Hour 12 Update:
Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman
2. How many books have you read so far? Finishing up my first one.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Hmm, I want to read The Boxcar Children next. :)
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? I intended to, but had to also run errands and make dinner.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  Way too many interruptions to count. I dealt with them, but I'll bunch back in the second half.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I haven't updated my posts as much as I thought I would.  Sorry, I'll check in more often.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  Not yet...maybe later.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  I would try really hard to focus more on just reading today. Couldn't devote as much time as I thought I would.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Nope, I'm ready for more!
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? Nothing revolutionary, but commenting and texting friends help keep you connected.

Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon, Part 1

Welcome to my Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon, Pt.1 post!  This is my third time participating and I'm going to consolidate some of my posts this time around. Check back frequently to see how I'm doing. :)

Hour 1 Update: 
1) Where are you reading from today?
My apartment in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, PA.
2) Three random facts about me…
      1 - No pets...I have terrible allergies.

      2 - My favorite drink (besides wine) is a Starbucks Caffè Mocha.

      3 - I love scrapbooking, even though it never seems like I have time to do it anymore.

3) How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 
I have 8 books next to my couch and I would like to read at least 3 in the next 24 hours.
4) 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)? 
My goals: Read for at least 10 hours (not including blogging, cheering, etc.), complete 3 books, and participate in at least 5 challenges (1 down, 4 to go!).
5) If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Pick short books you really want to read. Check in on other readers throughout the day and especially nearing the end.  When the 18-20 hour marks come around, it's rough...we're in it together, so show you're support. I write down the time period I read on a 3 x 5 index card to keep track.  Finally, have fun! You might not be able to read for 24 hours straight with all the updating, blogging, cheering, eating, and dealing with family/weekend stuff to distract you.  It's OK, just enjoy the ride! 

Hour 2 Update: 
I read 50 pages of The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman in 1 hour. It's awesome!  I have 4 Alice Hoffman books in my pile. Let's see if today turns into a Hoffman read-a-thon.
Check out the Hour 2 mini-challenge at I Heart Monster.  This was a fun one!
Where In The World Are You Reading?

Countdown to Dewey!

Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon begins in under 10 hours!  I've had a really bad week, so I will try my best to relax and enjoy losing myself in a good story.  My goals this time around...hmmm....I'll shoot for 10 hours of reading, three books, and at least 5 challenges. 

Not sure which ones I'll read, but here's the pile of books next to me:

A bunch of Alice Hoffman books including:

 - The Foretelling
 - Green Angel (re-read)
 - Green Witch
 - The Ice Queen
The Boxcar Children (#1) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad

See you in the morning.

Coming Soon: Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon is coming up on Saturday April 9th. Nearly 250 readers signed up so far.  I hope they get 500 participants this year since 448 people signed up for the last one in October.  I haven't officially signed up yet, but I really want to participate in it again. It will ultimately depend on my school work load that week. With some planning and preparation, I should be able to complete (or at least organize) my assignments ahead of time.  This will be my third Dewey 24 hour read-a-thon.  It's addictive and such a fun event!  I love the hourly challenges, the cheerleaders providing encouragement, and sharing the reading experience with so many hardcore book devotees. Sign up and find the details on Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon website.

Read-a-thon Wrap Up

We've reached the end of 24 hours.  Let's recap.  After some life distractions, I was able to refocus and get some more reading in.  I didn't come close to my initial goals, but I had a blast anyway.  Thanks so much for all your comments!  They make me laugh and keep me inspired.  You guys rock!  You other readers out there are one of the many reasons I love to participate in this reading event.  Even though I didn't get as much time in as I had hoped, it was fun to read your posts (especially some of your mini-challenges answers) and cheer you on.  Get some sleep now...it's well deserved.

End of event details:

How many books have you read?  Half of two books...that means one when you put them together?!?

Finished Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

Started How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Pages read: 198 pages (131 from Angel Star and 67 from HTTYD)

 

Hours spent reading: 5 hours (wow, I read really slow)

 

Hours spent on mini-challenges, cheering, and blogging: approx. 2.5 hours

 

Total participation: 7.5 hours

 

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, it was lots of fun!

 

What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I would try to devote more time to it like I did in April.  So many distractions that I missed out on a bunch of fun challenges. I'll definitely participate next time.

Read-a-thon Hour 11

Reader fail!  I've been a terrible read-a-thon participant. Even though I wanted to spend the whole day reading, life got in the way.  Hubby and I had DirectTV drama this morning. They were supposed to install the dish this morning (something to busy Hubby while I read...thought that was a good idea), however, do to complications it didn't happened. Then my car wouldn't start this morning, so I had to get it towed.  Yep, no luck today. The fine guys at Firestone fixed my car, I've got it back, and now I'm getting back on track with my reading.  I'm sure you don't want to hear all the details...but alas I've spent only about two hours reading (about 80 pages worth).  I know, it's a travesty!

My new goals: maybe 10 hours total...so I've got at least 8 hours of reading ahead of me. Of course, I'll try to make it to the 24th hour. 

How everyone else hanging in there? Anyone have a distraction story to share?  Let me know.

Read-a-thon Hour 1

Ready, set, read!  It's the first hour of the Dewey 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I've got everything I need:  coffee, books, computer. I'm rocking my Monticello t-shirt with Thomas Jefferson's quote "I cannot live without books...".  Let's get reading!  Here's some of the books I have with me today.

Finish Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (this is a BookCrossing bookring)
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (a 1001-book...I'm way behind in the "read ten 1001 books" challenge)
plus some manga (Tokyo Mew Mew 1-3 and Crescent Moon 1-3)

Goals:  I'd like to match or exceed my stats from the last Dewey read-a-thon in April. I'll shoot for 4 books (I could breeze through the manga), at least 500 pages, 6-8 mini-challenges, and at least 12 hours reading/16 hours participating.  

Hour 1 meme:
Where are you reading from today? My apartment in the western 'burbs of Philadelphia. 

3 facts about me … 
1 - My favorite colors are PINK (when I'm feeling girly) and BLUE (the royal kind). 
2 - I just moved...not far, just the next county over. 
3 - I love to read!  Hooray for reading!

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? I've got three books on the agenda, a bunch of manga in between, and dozens (err, hundreds) of other books to choose from if my mood changes.

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)? Copy and paste from above: 4 books (plus manga), at least 500 pages, 6-8 mini-challenges, and at least 12 hours reading/16 hours participating.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?  This is my second time participating.  I learned in the spring read-a-thon that you should read genres you love. It's easier to get through books you like than ones that torture you. Another tip: write down your start and stop times of your readings...it'll help you keep better track of it all. Finally, have fun!  The read-a-thon is supposed to be fun, so don't get stressed out over how fast other participants read. Focus on your reading experience. Take breaks when you need to and support other readers. At hour 19, we're all struggling to stay awake together.  :)

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

It's back!  Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon is this Saturday, October 9th.  I've craved out most of the day to relax and catch up on my leisure reading.  Grad school is kicking my butt, so I'm due for one day of vacation from it all.  I participated in the read-a-thon in April and absolutely loved it!

Here's some of my wrap-up stats from the Dewey's 24 hr Read-a-thon in April 2010:
Participated for over 16 hours, including:
   - over 11 hours of reading
   - 5 hours of blogging/mini-challenges/cheering for other readers
Books read: 3 1/2 including
   - The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
   - Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
   - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
   - Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (read about 1/2)
Pages read: 505
Mini-challenges completed:  9
Prizes won: none...maybe I'll have better luck this year.

I'll post a list of my potential reads before it officially begins. It's not too late to sign up for the read-a-thon on Saturday. Check out the website to learn more.

HUGE TBR Readathon Wrap Up PLUS A Summer Slimdown!

The HUGE TBR Readathon ended last night. A big thank you goes out to Bookworming in the 21st Century for hosting the event. I absolutely LOVE read-a-thons and I usually set my reading goals way too high.  This time I planned to read 4 books for the week and it was pretty unrealistic considering my weekend plans (I ran in a 5 mile race on Friday followed by throwing an awesome party for family and friends).  Anyway, I did read two of the four books:

I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn  (146 pages)
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber  (253 pages)

Total pages read:  399 pages
Time spent reading:  8 hours

Not my most impressive stats. I'm still reading The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone.  I hope to finish it this week. The fourth book on my list was The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine, which I'll definitely get around to reading soon. Right now, I'm working on several reviews and hope to post them soon.

A Summer Read-a-thon!

Taylor over at The Library Lurker decided to turn her entire summer into a read-a-thon to get through her huge TBR pile.  What a great idea!  Instead of a week, three whole months devoted to reading. Well, that's where I found Carina's comment from Reading Through Life about hosting a summer read-a-thon called the Summer Slimdown from June 29-September 6.  I can't wait to join!  I'll make a list of my TBR books that I've been dying to read (and some books I need to just bookcross already) and post it when the challenge begins.  I'd like to believe that I could get through my TBR pile without participating in challenges, but it provides so much motivation. I love that feeling of checking off books from your list, tracking the progress and then sharing it with other readers. It sounds like a lot of fun...so head over there to sign up!

HUGE TBR Readathon Update

This week is flying by during the HUGE TBR Readathon, hosted by Bookworming in the 21st Century.  I originally set a goal of 4 books for the week.  So far I've finished one, I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn.  I'm writing the review and hope to post it sometime soon.  I'm in the middle of The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone (this book is taking me a while).  Plus, I'm about to start Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber. 

Usually I read one book at a time...devote my attention entirely to one story.  Commit myself to that one author and become absorbed in the world they've created.  It also ensures I finish the book I've started. But I'll try something a little different now. Let's see how I manage two (or maybe even more) books at once.  Can I easily shift my focus from paranormal romance to realistic fiction and then back again?  I'm sure a lot of people probably read multiple books at once.

What's your reading preference and do you have any advice on how you manage multiple reads (especially in different genres)? Let me know what you think.

Getting through that HUGE TBR list...

I joined the HUGE TBR Readathon hosted by Bookworming in the 21st Century. It starts today and will run through Sunday June 20.  I'm setting a goal of 4 books this week, which is probably way too high (because I have friends and family visiting this weekend). Here's some potential titles (which may change depending on my mood):

- Finish The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone
- The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
- Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
- I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn

I've got so many other books cluttering my floor, but this would be a great start considering my reading pace slowed down drastically last month.  Can I blame the humid summer weather for that?  I guess not, so it's time to get down to work.  I'll update my progress throughout the week.  Happy readings! :)

Read-a-thon Wrap-up

This is a day late, but I needed some time to recuperate after the challenge. 

Final tally: 11 hours 20 minutes - reading
                 5 hours - blogging/mini-challenges/spreading cheer

                 7+ hours - eating/sleeping/walk/other breaks

 Participated for a total of: 16 hours 20 minutes

Pages read: 505

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? The final hour...between 3 and 4am.  Only four more hours to go.  At one moment it's 4 am, the next it's 4:38.  Yep, I fell asleep on the couch without realizing it.  That's when I decided to call it a night.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?  It'll be different for every reader because you have to read in the genre YOU prefer.  I love YA so I choose short YA books that would hold my interest. 

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? List all the mini-challenge winners on one page....maybe with the prizes.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Getting support from cheerleaders and other readers!

5. How many books did you read? 3 1/2

6. What were the names of the books you read?
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (read about 1/2)

7. Which book did you enjoy most? Tales of Beedle the Bard: I've wanted to read this book for a while now.  It was fun, gruesome and endearing all at once.  I loved Dumbledore's commentary!  As I read it, I felt as if I was reuniting with old friends...getting an extra glimpse into their world.  Now I have an urge to re-read all the Harry Potter books.  Maybe they'll get back on the TBR bandwagon.

8. Which did you enjoy least? I enjoyed all the books.  If I had to choose one, it would be Where the Sidewalk Ends only because I was extremely tired and loopy. I couldn't really appreciate it so late into the read-a-thon while falling asleep. 

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't a cheerleader, but I did encourage a few other readers.   I would advise that cheerleaders comment about something specific the reader posted about.  It makes the readers think that someone is actually taking in what they wrote.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'll definitely do it again.  I enjoyed the support of all the participants.  I got a good chunk of reading in and loved visiting/discovering other blogs.  Thanks for an awesome event! :)

Read-a-thon Hour 19

Hour 19 Go Indie! Challenge:
This one is really easy for me to answer because I love the Chester County Book and Music Company in West Chester, PA.  Incredible book selection!  They have the stuff that the big box stores don't carry in stores. Plus, they have an amazing Cajun-style cafe.  Author Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series) has a signing there in May.

I can't believe I'm still up.  I'm gonna try really hard to finish now since I've stuck it out so long.  Notice it's taking much longer (and harder) to read.

UPDATE: 
Title of book(s) read since last update: reading Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Number of books read since you started: on my 4th book
Pages read since last update: 64
Running total of pages read since you started: 469
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hour 40 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 10 hours, 10 minutes (+6 hours blogging-related/on my phone/lunch/dinner/making hot chocolate)...still doesn't add up to 19!
Mini-challenges completed:  9 mini challenges (Hour 1, 3, 5, 9, 16, 17 [2], 19 [above] and Name that Book Challenge)
Other participants you’ve visited: 10
Prize you’ve won: 0