As I did for the spring readathon, I will be posting ONE post during the main even of the ‘thon. I will be updating this one post throughout the day. After the ‘thon I will be doing a wrap-up post. Probably this will show up on Sunday if I haven’t fallen into a post-’thon coma. Books I read during the ‘thon will be mini-reviewed during the ‘thon, and those will be posted here.
So, my goals for this readathon are: make it until at least 2am, read at least three books, comment on at least five blogs, and do at least two challenges (not including the memes). Let’s see how I do!
Please note that I will be absent sometime within the day for at least a few hours, because I’m going out and doing autumn-type things with my family. If I don’t update in a while, that’s why.
Important posts: Prep post
I can also be found in these places:
Twitter, which I’ll be updating slightly more frequently.
DailyBooth account, where I’ll be posting pictures if I don’t look like an ogre.
To all cheerleaders stopping by: thank you so much for visiting and cheering me on! I know all us readers really appreciate y’all, and without you I’m sure we’d give up on the ‘thon a lot sooner. <3
To my fellow ‘thonners: Good luck! And don’t forget to say “hello” if you want/can spare the time!
Note: all times are MST. Last updated: 2:09am.
Reading Stats
Start time: 6:00am!
End time: 2:09am
# of books read: 3
Total hours read: TBE
Total pages read: TBE
Goal Stats
Books: 3/3!
Blogs: 5/5!
Challenges: 2/2!
Hours: 20/20!
Reading Log
Time: 6:00am
Book: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Food Consumed: Coffee, bagel, cereal, tea (black chai), popcorn (lime & salt flavor), chocolate
Mini-Review: It needs a longer review than what I can write for it today! Keep an eye out for one sometime next week. I will say this: barring a few missteps, it was VERY good. Very enthralling, with a wonderful story and great characters.
Rating: Buy it/Borrow it/Bin it
372pp/~9h (to be calculated more precisely later)
Time: 3:52pm
Book: Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go by Dale E. Basye
Food: Coffee (2nd cup), cheese (Swiss), dinner
Mini-Review: TBW
Rating: Buy it/Borrow it/Bin it
pp/hmin
Lost track of what I was doing sometime around 5pm. Tried reading The Dreaming vol. 1, hated it, switched to Sport. Will go back to Heck afterwards, I think.
Time: approx. 7:14pm
Book: Sport by Louise Fitzhugh
Food: Tea, graham crackers, yogurt
Mini-Review: This is the third book in the Harriet the Spy series, and while I don’t like it as much as the first two, it was a lot of fun and surprisingly exciting. It took me a while to get the humor, but it’s great stuff, a really different flavor from the humor in the other books. Plus Sport’s family is great! Really enjoyed this one.
Rating: Buy it/Borrow it/Bin it
218pp/2h30min
Notes
5:42am: I woke up early! Have I ever woken up this early for the ‘thon before? I can’t remember. I know I woke up LATE once. Hm.
7:41am: Taking a small exercise break, which is mostly just twirling my arms and legs around like a madwoman. Fun! I may go get breakfast soon.
1:19pm: Went out of the house like I said I would, but we didn’t actually go anywhere except for Walmart, wherein I stayed in the car and read for a while. Ha. Almost done with my first book, which is a REALLY good one, btw. My next one will be much shorter, however! I need to get moving!
Also, I won a prize! Yay! I picked Jon Stewart’s new book, which I hope is good. I haven’t read his first one, but I enjoy his show, soooo.
3:11pm: Taking a small break to make more coffee before starting my next book. Wanna see one of my sock monkeys? His name is Mr Nilsson:
8:05pm: Have switched books in an effort to keep my mind on what I’m reading instead of the TV/internet/etc. Am now reading Sport by Louise Fitzhugh!
9:50pm: Got my second wind! Finished Sport, and am now going back to Heck. I’m wishing we had some hot chocolate, but…we don’t. I’ll have to scrounge something else up from the kitchen. Snacks!!
1:07am: I’m lagging again. I want to finish this book, and then depending on how awake I feel I MAY try for a graphic novel. If I can stay up later than my goal of 2am, then so be it, but I’m not going to force myself. Only 40 minutes to go!
2:10am: Finished my third book and I’m exhausted. I’m clocking out. Good luck to everyone sticking to it!
Challenges/Memes/etc
Hour 1 – Intro Meme
Where are you reading from today?
Albuquerque, NM! More specifically, my apartment (and later on I’ll be outside and at Big Lots, I think).
3 facts about me …
1. I’m graduating college in December!
2. I like doing art!
3. I hate sweating and doing anything more physical than walking!
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
13 official books, plus several hundred public domain ebooks if I need to dig into my Kindle.
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)?
Yup! I talked about them above.
If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Don’t try to do TOO many things at one time because it’ll just distract you from reading. But! Do try to participate within the community of ‘thonners somehow. Whether that’s through Twitter or doing memes is up to you!
Hour 2 – Back in the Day Children’s Book Mini-Challenge [host]
What were some of your favorite children’s books when you were younger? Do you have any new favorites now that you’re an adult? Have you included any children’s or YA titles in your Read-A-Thon stack this year?
(My comment, copied & pasted like a true internet pro:) Man, I have lots. I loved The BabySitters Club, Marissa Moss’ Amelia books, Little Women, the Boxcar Children, Little House on the Prairie, the Anastasia Krupnik series, Harriet the Spy! And more!
I’ve got a few YA books in my ‘thon stack, including Sport, the third book in the Harriet the Spy series. I haven’t read it before, so I’m excited!
Hour 3 – 6 Word Celebration! Mini-Challenge [host]
Required: books, water, perseverance, and CHEERLEADERS!
Hour 7 – Armchair Travelling [host]
The book I’m reading now, People of the Book, is taking me all across Europe, as well as into America and Australia! So far I’ve been to: Sydney (Australia), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Vienna (Austria), Venice (Italy), Tarragona (Spain), Seville (Spain), Boston (USA), and now I’m in London (England)! The stories that happen in these places aren’t always happy (in fact, I’d say the majority of them were decidedly downcast), but the way Geraldine Brooks writes really gives you a sense of what it felt like to be living there, in that place, in that time period (because I’m time-travelling as well!) without going overboard with descriptions. She gives you just enough to make you feel like you’re there, and the rest is up to your imagination (or Wikipedia).
Hour 12 – Mid-Event Survey!
1. What are you reading right now?
Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, although I’m not paying much attention to it, to be honest.
2. How many books have you read so far?
…just the one. 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
A graphic novel!
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Nah, just told the parents what I’d be doing.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Yes! Mostly they’re interruptions I’ve done to myself, because I’ve been having trouble concentrating. I deal with them by forcing myself back to reading!
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
That I haven’t been reading as much as I did in the other ‘thons! I know I read smaller books for those, but I thought for sure I’d be reading faster. Oh well.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
None that I can think of at the moment!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Cut myself off from the internet for a few hours instead of obsessively checking it every thirty minutes. It’s more productive if I read for two hours and THEN check the internet!
9. Are you getting tired yet?
Yes, actually, even though it’s not very late here. I think it’s because I started with a dense, heavy book and reading that took a lot more effort than if I had started with a graphic novel or something.
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?
Drink lots of water and dance around the room for exercise. I personally like doing the Macarena!
Hour 14 – Wordle Mini-Challenge [host]
Other Stuff
Previous ‘thons: Spring 2010 24HRAT | Fall 2009 24HRAT | Spring 2009 24HRAT (don’t think I ever did a wrap-up for this?)
I accomplished nearly all my goals for the readathon! I only fell short in hours spent participating and doing mini-challenges. I read a really good amount of books, though, and I’m especially proud of myself for keeping really good track of how long I read. You can see my totals, plus books read/food eaten/etc., at my main readathon post.
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