Hour 24 and Final Meme

Since last update:

Strawberry Girl - 50 pgs

Final total:  513 pages
Final total, hours:  8hr 5min reading, 2hr 35min listening to audiobook =  10hr 40min

Books:  Where'd You Go Bernadette - 326 pages, Finished
             The Woman in White (audiobook) - 2hr 35min listening (63 pages)
             My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space - 40 pages
             Strawberry Girl - 84 pages

Final Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  Unfortunately, I gave in and slept for hours 21,22, and 23.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?  I always recommend mysteries, because they're engrossing.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  I'd like to be able to see the books entered into the database.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?  I especially like the hourly host/co-host updates with the funny videos, etc. Of course, the mini-challenges are always fun, too.
5. How many books did you read?  1 entire book, and part of 3 others
6. What were the names of the books you read?  See above in this post
7. Which book did you enjoy most?  I thought Where'd You Go Bernadette was very entertaining
8. Which did you enjoy least?  Strawberry Girl (a Newbery winner) - my least favorite of the bunch, but I still liked it.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?  I didn't cheer too much this time, because I wasn't on an "official" squad.  I only got one cheerleader comment myself.
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 read and also do some cheering. 

Once again, a huge thank you to my Read-a-Thon buddy, Laura @ Please Pardon the Interruption.  Your comments always keep me going!  And thanks to the organizers, mini-challengers, etc.  Great reading, everyone.  See you next time!

Hours 20, 21, 22, and 23

Since last update:

Strawberry Girl - 34 pgs

Running total, pages:  463
Running total, hours:  9hr 55min (2hr 35min listening)

O.K, I admit I've been asleep for about the last 3 hours, but I'm back for the last 50 minutes!!  Must add a bit more to that page count!

Hours 18 and 19

Since last update:

My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space - 40 pgs
The Woman in White - listened 40 min (approx. 18 pgs)

Running total, pages:  429
Running total, hours:  9hr 25min (includes 2hr 35min listening)

Trying to hang in there...

Hours 16 and 17

Since last update:

The Woman in White - Listened to audiobook 45 min (18 pgs)

Running total, pages:  371
Running total, hours:  8hr 15min (1hr 55min listening)

Oh dear - getting sleepy.  I'm going to try to last 1 more hour before breaking out my traditional post-midnight Cherry Coke Zero!

Hours 13, 14, and 15

Since last update:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette -  71 pgs, Finished

Running total, pages:  353
Running total, hours:  7hr 30min (1hr 10min listening)

Finally finished my first book!  I thought I'd be skipping around more, but I really got into the book.  It's only 9:20 p.m. my time, but I'm feeling a little weary.  Not giving up!  Will just move around for a bit and try to get a second wind. 

Best of Your Reading Year Mini-Challenge

I've read a lot of great books this year, but I'll just pick 3 categories from the mini-challenge:

Best Fiction:  Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter - This book had it all - great characters, fascinating story-line, drama, humor, etc.  I can't wait to read more by this author.

Best Non-Fiction:  Outcasts United by Warren St. John - Fascinating book about a youth soccer team in Georgia made up of refugees.

Best author:  Alexander McCall Smith - A prolific author who never disappoints me when I'm in the mood for a kind, gentle read.

Hours 11 and 12 and Mid-Event Meme

Since last update:

Where'd You Go Bernadette - 61 pgs (am finding this book highly entertaining)

Running total, pages: 282
Running total, hours:  5hr 55min (1hr 10min listening)

1) How are you doing?  OK, but wish I had more energy.  Sleepy?  Yes, a bit - time for tea! Are your eyes tired? A little - may switch to audio for a little while (but I don't want to fall asleep!)
2) What have you finished reading?  Not quite finished with Where'd You Go, Bernadette.
3) What is your favorite read so far?  Liking my current book a lot, but I'm also listening to The Woman in White, which I'm enjoying.
4) What about your favorite snacks?  My unplanned half-bag of Peanut M&M's!
5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!  A mid-event shout-out to my faithful RAT buddy Laura@Please Pardon the Interruption! Have also visited the blogs of txlady1975, Jenn and the Cats, and Elisabeth@Books Are My Friends.

Hours 8, 9, and 10

Since last update:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - 66 pgs
The Woman in White - 20 min. listening (approx. 8 pages)

Running total, pages:  221
Running total, hours:  4hr 45min (includes 1hr 10min listening to audiobook)

Books on Books Mini-Challenge

Camera seems to be working now. Yay!

Hours 6 and 7

Since last update:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - 58 pgs

Running total, pages:  147
Running total, hours:  3hr 20min (includes 50min listening)

Still haven't done any mini-challenges, but hope to get to a few at some point.  I'm having trouble with my camera, so I've already missed a couple I wanted to do.  Just finished my pre-lunch snack of popcorn (it's 1:15 p.m, but my normal eating hours are a little off today).  Hope everyone is having fun! 

Hours 2, 3, 4, and 5

Ugh! After a few nights in a row of not sleeping well, I woke up headachey and feeling yucky.  After reading for a bit, I tried to go back to sleep.  That didn't work, so I took the dog for a walk (while listening to an audiobook), had a shower and ate some breakfast.  Feeling quite a bit better now, so am hoping to get some quality RAT time in the next few hours!

Since last update:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - 12 pgs
The Woman in White - listened 50 minutes (approx. 19 pages - I have the actual book, too)

Running total, pages: 89
Running total, reading hours:  1hr 15min
                        listening:                50min

Introductory Meme and Hour 1

) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Utah
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?  Probably the latest Sue Grafton, W is For Witness, although I'm not starting with that since it's a bit long.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?  My snacks are pretty boring:  apple slices with peanut butter, trail mix, popcorn, etc.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!  I'm a big sports fan, so will be checking on scores later today - not watching any games, however!
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 keep trying to get a good night's sleep the night before, but it didn't happen once again!  This time, I'm going to try to get more actual reading hours in, although it's hard not to get carried away reading everyone's blogs!


Read so far:

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - 58 pgs

Beginning of Read-a-Thon

And we're off!  Good luck, everyone.  Wishing you many happy reading hours!

RAT Book Stack

Finally got my stack together for tomorrow.  And here it is!

W is For Wasted by Sue Grafton - It's kind of a tradition for me that if Grafton has a new book out, I read it during the RAT.  The only issue with this one, though, is that it's almost 500 pages.  I may start with something shorter.  I agree with NPR when they said of this series, "It makes me wish there were more than 26 letters in the alphabet!"
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - A friend told me this was funny.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - Don't know much about this one, but it looks fun.
My Nest isn't Empty, I Just Have More Closet Space by Lisa Scottoline - Short essays - in honor of my daughter away at college.
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and Holes by Louis Sachar - 2 Newbery winners (I'm on a quest to read them all) for something lighter.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - Y.A fiction.  A friend recently told me she missed a day of school in junior high to finish this book, so I thought it was time for a reread.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - Am about halfway through the audiobook, so will listen to this (it's good!) while walking the dog or giving my eyes a rest.
And finally, a couple of mysteries because they always keep me engrossed:
Poppy Done to Death by Charlaine Harris
The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie

I'll be lucky to finish 2 books, but I like having lots to choose from (I'm also a "mood" reader).

Must think about food now.  Hope to be back later for a little pre-event cheering.  And I'm determined to get to bed early (something that normally doesn't happen for me) since my start time is 6:00 a.m.