Read-a-Thon Final Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
Probably hour 21, as that's when I fell asleep for a couple of hours!
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
The Alphabet Mystery series by Sue Grafton - I read 'T is for Trespass' and got engrossed in it
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Fewer time-consuming challenges - I prefer just short breaks from the reading
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
It was fun to read the hourly posts from the hosts with videos, suggestions, etc.
5. How many books did you read?
2 plus part of 2 others
6. What were the names of the books you read?
T is For Trespass
The House on Mango Street
The Room on the Roof (3/4)
The Secret of the Old Clock (1/2)
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
T is For Trespass, but I liked them all
8. Which did you enjoy least?
I didn't dislike anything I read
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
Even if you don't sign up to be an "official" cheerleader, you can still leave comments to encourage people. I tried to leave a few comments every time I updated my blog.
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 will mainly be a reader, but will cheer a bit.

Hour 24

It's over!! I didn't stay awake for the WHOLE 24 hours, but I did better than last time.

Since last update:

40 pages - The Secret of the Old Clock
Final total, pages: 684
Final total, hours: 12hr 15 min

Back with some final thoughts after sleeping for a bit...

Hours 20, 21, 22, 23

Since last update:

20 pages - The Room on the Roof
20 pages - The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
Running total, pages: 644
Running total, hours: 11hr 45 min

O.K, admit I dropped off for awhile, but I'm back for the last 1/2 hour!

Hours 18 and 19

Oh dear, have been reading the same line several times. Time for a blog break. I am really trying to hang in there...

Since last update:

42 pages - The Room on the Roof
Running total, pages: 604
Running total, hours: 11hr

Hours 16 and 17

Since last update:

65 pages - The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond
Running total, pages: 562
Running total, hours: 10hr 15 min

Getting a bit sleepy - no! Time to walk around for a bit and break open my Cherry Coke Zero.

Hours 14 and 15

Since last update:

65 pages - The House on Mango Street - Finished!
Running total, pages: 497
Running total, hours: 9 hrs 15min

I'm definitely going to surpass my page and hours totals from the last Read-a-Thon - yay!

Am going to break for just a bit before starting my 3rd book. I think I'll be switching around now - as it gets later, I doubt I'll be able to stay with one book for too long.

Hour 12 Meme

I'm a little late posting this, because I didn't check in at hour 12.

1. What are you reading right now?
Just finished 'T' is For Trespass and am now starting The House on Mango Street
2. How many books have you read so far?
One
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Not sure what my mood will be, but probably Tea Time For the Traditionally Built
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
I did lots of cleaning the last few days and made sure there was plenty of food in the fridge
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Hardly any interruptions!
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
Not as much cheering as last time
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Maybe fewer challenges that are dependent on having read specific books
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Same as last time - try harder to get a good night's sleep the night before!
9. Are you getting tired yet?
My worst time was late afternoon, but my eyes are burning a bit.
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?
I planned out all my food/snacks ahead of time, and that saved me a lot of reading time.

Hours 11, 12, 13

How's everybody doing? I can't believe we're over halfway through!

Since last update:
87 pages - 'T' is For Trespass' - Finished!
45 pages - The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Running total, pages: 432
Running total, hours: 8hr 15min

Hours 9 and 10

Just had to down another cup of tea for my late-afternoon slump. Will soon be finished with my first book. Hmmmm....what to read next...

Since last update:
60 pages - 'T' is For Trespass
Running total, pages: 300
Running total, hours: 6hr

Hours 7 and 8

Yikes - I can't believe the RAT is already 1/3 over! The time is going too fast and I'm reading too slow!

Since last update:
60 pages - 'T' is For Trespass by Sue Grafton
Running total, pages: 240
Running total, hours: 4hr, 30min

Hours 5 and 6

Since last update:
40 pages - "T is for Trespass"
Running total, pages: 180
Running total, hours: 3hr 25min

Hour 6, I spent cheering, taking a shower, and grabbing a snack (am putting off lunch for awhile) - oh, and checking briefly on The Masters. I also intended to take the dog for a walk, but it's raining/snowing here so I'll have to watch for a break in the weather to get her outside for a bit

Back to my book! The pace is a little slow, but I actually like it because it's building up suspense.

Hours 3 and 4

Oh my - time sure flies when you're having fun! I took a break for breakfast and blogging, then got right back at it. I am really into my book and have no desire to pick up anything else yet.

Since last update:
50 pages - "T" is For Trespass
Running total, pages: 140
Running total, hours: 2hr, 40 min

Hours 1 and 2

Off to a pretty good start, but am getting the sleepies (got up at 5:40 a.m.), so thought I'd post to try and wake up!

90 pages - "T" is for Trespass by Sue Grafton
Running total, hours: 1 hr 40 min

I found and plugged in an external mouse for my laptop - am good to go for the day!

I'm a little late with the Introduction Meme, but here it is:

1)Where are you reading from today? Utah

2)Three random facts about me…
- I adore spectator sports, especially college basketball and tennis
- I love 1940's music
- My favorite food in the world is a warm chocolate-chip cookie

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 10

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)?
I just want to exceed my results of last time

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
This is only my second one, but I would recommend no "heavy" reading

Off to get a bit of breakfast now...

We're off!

I'm ready to go! For some reason, the time on my posts is one hour off. It will say it's 5:00 a.m, but it's actually 6:00 - not QUITE so bad. I wish many hours of pleasurable reading to all!

Oh dear, I'm having trouble with my mouse. I hope I don't have to scrounge up someone else's computer to use..of all days for my laptop to act up!

Read-a-Thon Readiness!

O.K, here are my books. I'm not a fast reader, but I tend to read several books at once, so I have to have many choices available to fit my mood. My initial stack had several more, but I made myself reduce the stack to 10!














A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie
Tea Time For the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
T is For Trespass by Sue Grafton
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Nothing heavy, and plenty of YA. My husband and daughter think I'm a little weird, but they are supportive, as long as there is food in the fridge!


The dog is also supportive, as long as she gets her walk in.

Let's see - must plan snacks. I think trail mix, fruit, and lots of tea.

Looking forward to Saturday (an early 6:00 a.m. start for me). Good luck, all!