Closing Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  Fell asleep at hour 21. I usually get up for the last hour, but not this time. Age?
2. Tell us ALLLLL the books you read! This One Summer, Drama, I am Jazz, Nightlights, and part of Y is for Yesterday, Midnight in Austenland, and The Sign of the Twisted Candle
3. Which books would you recommend to other Read-a-thoners? I've never focused on graphic novels before, but it worked well for me this time.
4. What’s a really rad thing we could do during the next Read-a-thon that would make you smile?  Can't think of anything. It's already SO rad!
5. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? Would you be interested in volunteering to help organize and prep?  MOST likely.  I may have a conflict in April, but I could probably help prep.

Hours 20-24

Well, I didn't make it back for the last hour like I usually do - guess the lack of sleep the night before caught up to me.  I had an impressive number of pages (for me) this time, due to a couple of graphic novels :)  Hours were not so good, as I usually get 10-12 in.

Final totals
   Pages:  852

   Hours: 5 hr 45 min reading, 1 hr 45 min audio
                     Total:  7 hr 30 min

As always, SO much fun.  Can't wait until the next one!  Per the usual, thank you to my RAT buddy Laura@pleasepardontheinterruption.  Can't imagine doing one of these without you!

Hours 15-19

Since last update:

   Drama - 233 pgs, Finished (graphic)
   I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings - Finished (children)
   Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez - 53 pgs, Finished (children)

Am going to try to last another hour or so, then sleep for a bit and hopefully get up for the last hour. That seems to be my normal pattern.

#Readathonbuddy photo challenge

Here's my adorable puppy (almost 14!)  She has just given up on me and gone to bed.

I read the graphic novel Drama by Raina Telgemeier over the last hour and enjoyed it very much. 

Hours 9-14

Since last update:

  Y is for Yesterday - 8 pgs
   Midnight in Austenland - 14 pgs
   This One Summer - 318 pgs (Finished)

I think I'll just update my hours at the end.  I decided to take a break from Y is for Yesterday for awhile.  I was in the mood for a graphic novel so I read That One Summer, and it was great!  Midnight in Austenland is on audio, and I'm not loving it but I'll continue listening when my eyes need a break.  I think I'll start another graphic now...

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? Y is for Yesterday, Midnight in Austenland, and This One Summer
2. How many books have you read so far? Haven't finished one yet - have been mixing it up
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  Finishing This One Summer
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  No outside interruptions - just social media, walking the dog, snack, tea-type breaks (too many of them!)
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Nothing, really

10 Years in 10 Books Mini-Challenge

Here are my recommendations:

2007 - A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
2008 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pool Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
2009 - Outcasts United by Warren St. John
2010 - Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
2011 - Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
2012 - Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
2013 - The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
2014 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
2015 - Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
2016 - Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
2017 - What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hours 5-8

Since last update:

Y is for Yesterday - 123 pgs

Running totals:
   Pages: 209
   Hours:  3 hrs reading, 54 min audio

Hours 1-4

I got up late, so haven't made stellar progress so far.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale: 27 pgs (audio)
Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton - 59 pgs

Running totals
   Pages:  86
   Hours: 1 hr reading, 54 min audio

Intro Survey

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Lovely Utah
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Y is for Yesterday 
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Popcorn
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I love to read (obviously), play the piano, crochet, and watch tennis and college basketball on TV. Roger Federer is my sports hero. 
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 always hope to get more actual reading hours in (without giving up social media time – not sure how to do that!) 

Dewey's Readathon!

Only 3 days until the Readathon, and I've got my stack all ready to go! It was tough paring it down, but I only allow myself 10 books (ok, I do have 11 this time because I included a picture book) - silly tradition, but hey, it's a tradition! I'm not likely to read more than a few of these, but I'm a mood reader and like to have several to choose from.  There are more graphic novels this time, however, so I might surprise myself.

The bottom 5 books are in honor of the "Most Challenged Books of 2016". I listened to an interview with the authors of "This One Summer" on NPR, and immediately planned to get as many of these books as possible for the Readathon. The Stack:

• The Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene - another tradition is that I have a Nancy Drew for the wee hours when my reading ability takes a dive. These books started me off on a life-long love of mysteries.
• Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale - I really enjoyed Austenland, and thought this would be fun and light for the RAT.
• Appointment with Death - yet another tradition to include an Agatha Christie mystery
• Something New - graphic novel by Lucy Knisley. I've read and liked a couple of others by her.
• March: Book Three by John Lewis - graphic novel on a serious subject. The first two were great.
• Y is for Yesterday - AND another tradition to save the latest Sue Grafton alphabet mystery for the RAT
• These last five are the "challenged" books and they all look great!
• George by Alex Gino
• Drama - graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier
• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• This One Summer - graphic novel by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
• I Am Jazz - picture book by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Bout of Books 20 Updates

I'll keep all my updates in this one post.  Once again, I will try for 1000 pages!

Monday (Day 1)

Books finished/in progress:

     Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – Last 44 pgs (Finished)

     As You Like It by William Shakespeare – 37 pgs

Pages read today:  81

Tuesday (Day 2)   
Books finished/in progress:
    Giant of the Senate by Al Franken - Last 76 pgs (Finished)
    A Mind to Murder by P.D. James - 24 pgs
    As You Like It - 6 pgs
Pages read today:  106

Wednesday (Day 3)
Books finished/in progress:
   As You Like It - Last 61 pgs (Finished)
   A Mind to Murder - 20 pgs 
   Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder - 54 pgs
Pages read today:  135

Thursday (Day 4)
Books finished/in progress:
   A Mind to Murder - 14 pgs 
   Sophie's World - 43 pgs
   My Life in France by Julia Child - 22 pgs
Pages read today:  79

Running total: 401 pgs. My 1000-page goal may be creeping away :(

Friday (Day 5)
   A Mind to Murder - 26 pgs (audiobook while I walk the dog)
   Sophie's World - 68 pgs
   My Life in France - 24 pgs
Pages read today:  118

Saturday (Day 6)
   A Mind to Murder - 22 pgs
   Sophie's World - 34 pgs
   My Life in France - 21 pgs
Pages read today:  77

Sunday (Day 7)
   A Mind to Murder - 34 pgs (finished)
   Sophie's World - 184 pgs
   My Life in France - 23 pgs
Pages read today:  241 

Total pages:  841   - Didn't reach my goal yet again, but it was fun trying!  Maybe I'll get there in Bout of Books 21...

Bout of Books 20

I have been travelling, so am a little late signing up for Bout of Books. I'm giving it a go!  Here is the official info:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

24in48 Updates

Saturday

I finished my first book (already in progress):  The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Also listened to a little of Three Junes. 

Currently, I am at: 3 hr 13 min  Now, I will be busy most of the evening. Not stellar progress, but I should be able to do much better tomorrow.

Sunday

Finished Conversations With Myself (already in progress), and read parts of Three Junes, Ill Will, and Giant of the Senate.

Final stats

9 hr 1 min reading, 1 hr 51 min audio = 10 hr 52 min, 550 pages

Not bad. I think I'll shoot for 15 hours next time!

24in48 Intro Survey

1. Where in the world are you reading from this weekend? Utah
2. Have you done the 24in48 readathon before? Yes, this is my 2nd one!
3. Where did you hear about the readathon, if it is your first?
4. What book are you most excited about reading this weekend? Can't pick just one. I'm currently in the middle of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks, and it's fascinating.
5. Tell us something about yourself. Love books (obviously), travel, music, mountains, sports, my two grown daughters, husband, and dog!
6. Remind us where to find you online this weekend. Litsy @readerann and https://blogbysherryann.blogspot.com

24in48 Reading Stack!

O.K, here it is.  I pulled together ten books that I want to read in the coming weeks (four of them are already in progress). Since I can be a mood reader, I like lots of variety for Readathons.

Death of a Glutton by M.C. Beaton
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks (in progress)
Three Junes by Julia Glass (in progress), also on audio
Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela (in progress)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
Ill Will by Don Chaon (in progress)
On Kindle: A Mind to Murder by P.D. James, also on audio
                  The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

I do have some other things to do this weekend, but I will fit in as much reading as possible. Good luck, all!

It's almost time for the 24in48 Readathon!

This was so much fun last time that I can't resist joining in again.  It's the weekend of July 22/23.  I won't be able to devote the whole weekend to reading (darn it), but should be able to get several hours in.  I have no idea what I'll be reading yet, so I'll post my plan next week.

Bout of Books 19 Updates

I will keep my daily updates in this one post.  My goal will be the same as last time - to read 1000 pages.  Last time, I was short by 10 pages!

Monday (Day 1)

Books finished/in progress:

     Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde – 34 pgs

     The Narrows  by Michael Connelly – 15 pgs

Pages read today:  49

Tuesday (Day 2)
     Something Rotten - 56 pgs
     The Narrows - 77 pgs
Pages read today:  133

Wednesday (Day 3)
     Something Rotten - 76 pgs
     The Narrows - 5 pgs
Pages read today:  81

Thursday (Day 4)
     Something Rotten - Last 87 pgs (Finished)
     The Narrows - 5 pgs
     Across That Bridge by John Lewis - 26 pgs
Pages read today:  118

Friday (Day 5)
     Across That Bridge - Last 58 pgs (Finished)
     The Narrows - 40 pgs
Pages read today:  98

Saturday (Day 6)
     The Narrows - 128 pgs
     Mink River by Brian Doyle - 38 pgs
Pages read today:  166

Sunday (Day 7)
     The Narrows - Last 149 pgs (Finished)
     Mink River - 54 pgs
     The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - 31 pgs
Pages read today:  234

Total pages for Bout of Books 19:  879

Aaah, so close to 1000 pages once again.  Hopefully, next time I'll make it!  I finished 3 books, and started 2 others.

Bout of Books 19

Even though I'll be traveling during the first part of the week, I can't resist signing up for the next Bout of Books.  Let's see what I can do!  I will have some plane hours to read.  Here's the blurb from their website:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Hours 21 through 24

Since last update: Amsterdam - 114 pgs
                             Murder is Easy - 6 pgs (on audio, but also on Kindle)

Final totals

Pages: 512
Hours: 9 hr 45 min reading, 1 hr audio

It's interesting that even though I participated in a different time zone this time (starting at 2:00 p.m. instead of my usual 6:00 a.m.), my results were about the same.  It seems in any 24-hour period, I can only manage 10-12 hours of reading.  I'm ok with that.  Thank you to Laura @pleasepardontheinterruption.blogspot.com for Readathonning with me again - you are the BEST RAT pal!!

Here is my Closing Survey:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? I slept through most of hours 15-19
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a reader engaged for next year? I became engrossed in Still Life with Bread Crumbs
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season? I was never able to see the participant's list, but I understand glitches happen...
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?  I had trouble with the website, so I spent most of my time on Goodreads and Litsy
5. How many books did you read? 1 total and 3 partials
6. What were the names of the books you read? The War of the Worlds, Still Life with Bread Crumbs, Amsterdam, and Murder is Easy
7. Which book did you enjoy most?  Still Life with Bread Crumbs
8. Which did you enjoy least?  I enjoyed War of the Worlds - didn't love it
9. 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 participate as a reader, and cheer as best I can

Hours 15 through 20

Since last update:

Still Life With Bread Crumbs: 54 pgs
Murder is Easy: 16 pgs (audio)

Running totals
Pages: 392
Hours: 7 hr 35 min reading, 50 min audio

I slept for almost 5 hours, but am back at it now until the end!

Hours 13, 14, and Mid-Event Survey

Since last update:

Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie - 30 min. of audiobook (20 pages)

Running totals:
Pages: 322
Hours: 6 hr 40 min reading, 30 min audio

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? Still Life with Bread Crumbs, and Murder is Easy
2. How many books have you read so far? Finished 1 (begun earlier), almost finished with another, and just started an audio book
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Just mainly want to finish the two I have in progress
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I cause my own interruptions by getting snacks, spending too much time on social media, etc. I never get through as many books as I want to, but that's ok!
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? That I've stayed up until 4:00 a.m!  Just about to have a nap, though...

Hours 10, 11, and 12

Since last update:

Still Life with Bread Crumbs - 114 pgs

Running totals
Pages: 301
Hours: 6 hr 40 min

It's 2:00 a.m. here and I'm still going strong!

Hours 7, 8, and 9

Since last update;

Still Life With Bread Crumbs - 60 pgs
I'm really enjoying this.  It's only my second Anna Quindlen novel, but I will definitely read more.

Running totals:
Pages - 187
Hours - 4 hr 30 min

Favorite Reading Spot

And THIS is where I was sitting in the sun...😊

Hours 1 through 6

Not burning up the pages so far, but hoping to do better...

Pages: The War of the Worlds - last 103 pgs
            Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen - 24 pgs
Hours: 3 hr 25 min

One hour of this was really SLOW reading because I was sitting in the sun and kept getting sleepy!

Greeting and Opening Survey:

Good morning/afternoon/evening all (depending on where you are located)! I'm participating from a different time zone today than what I am used to.  Normally, I start the Readathon at 6:00 a.m. (Utah), but today I'll be starting at 2:00 p.m. (just about 15 minutes from now).  It's going to be a different experience (but still certainly FUN!)  I got a decent night's sleep this time, which I normally don't do;however, I doubt it will be enough to keep me going until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. That's ok, though, I'll give in for a snooze if I need to.  Here's my opening survey:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Switzerland (I know...it's rough reading from here, but somebody's got to do it!)
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?  Hmmm, that's a tough one. Maybe Amsterdam by Ian McEwan.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?  Chili multi-grain chips
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!  I have two grown daughters, one on each coast of the U.S., work part-time, travel quite a bit with the hubby, and a day never goes by that I don't read at least a few pages!
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?  Can't think of anything specific. Looking forward to seeing how it goes with a different time schedule!

Readathon stack

Here are my books!
   Hidden Figures by Margo Lee Shetterly
   Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
   March by Geraldine Brooks
   Murder in the White House by Margeret Truman
   Death of a Glutton by M.C. Beaton
   ebooks on my Kindle(s): The Narrows by Michael Connelly
                 Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
                 Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
                 Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
                 Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene

I had a difficult time narrowing my stack down to 10 books.  I'm a mood reader and like lots of options, but I'm not likely to finish more than a couple so don't want to get TOO carried away.  I usually focus on this stack for the Readathon and a few weeks afterwards.  In keeping with tradition, I have a Nancy Drew mystery for when my reading ability takes a nosedive due to fatigue 😵.  I also have a few of these on audio so I can take a walk or give my eyes a rest.  Now, to figure out meals and snacks 😋.  Good luck to all on their preparations!

Dewey's Readathon!

Time to dust off the Readthon blog (it wasn't meant to JUST be a readathon blog, but oh well...) and start preparing for Dewey's Readathon April 29.  This will be my 12th Dewey's!  My first was in October, 2010, and I've only missed two since then. Will be back soon with the book stack!

Final results

Well, I didn't get as many hours in as I would have liked, but didn't do too badly:

Books read entirely: We Should All Be Feminists - 48 pgs
                                 What We Do Now - 211 pgs

Read partially: The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog - last 106 pgs
                        Moonglow - 110 pgs
                        Born to Run - 75 pgs
                        A Short History of Nearly Everything - 10 pgs

Total, pages: 560
          hours: 12 hr 20 min (6 hr 30 min reading, 5 hr 50 min audio)

Hour 43 Update

Finished:
What We Do Now: Standing Up for Your Values in Trump's America

In progress:
Moonglow

At 10 hr 15 min right now.  Not bad, but had hoped to get closer to the 24! Should be able to get in a few more hours before the end.

Hour 24 - Half-way point

Well, I don't have stellar results so far, but I'm hoping to do better tomorrow.  I'm sitting at around 4 hours audio and 1 1/2 hours reading.

Finished the last 106 pages of The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
Finished We Should All Be Feminists
In progress:  Born to Run and What Do We Do Now?

Going to read a bit more before giving in to my progressive sleepiness!

Book Spine Poetry

Here's my poem (ok, maybe it's more of a statement), themed for today!

The best of the best
The women
Unbroken
Here comes trouble

Hour 13 Update

Well, it's pretty clear I'm not going to make the 24 hour goal, but that's ok. I'll just do the best I can and have fun!

So far, I'm at:

3 hr, 15 min  (audiobook - finished up The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog)

Off to read some printed pages now...

Intro Survey

1. Where in the world are you reading from this weekend? Snowy Utah
2. Have you done the 24in48 readathon before? No, first time.
3. Where did you hear about the readathon, if it is your first?  I'm not sure where I first heard about this - it could have just been an Internet search on "Readathon"!
4. What book are you most excited about reading this weekend? Hmmm, maybe a tie between Born to Run and Moonglow.
5. Tell us something about yourself.  I have two grown daughters (one of whom lives in D.C and is marching today) and a hubby who planned his business travel to be away this weekend so I could read (just kidding, but it worked out nicely!)  As a huge sports fan, I will be checking in on tennis, basketball, and football, but with the sound turned off and an audiobook in my ear!
6. Remind us where to find you online this weekend.  https://blogbysherryann.blogspot.com and listy @readerann

24in48 Reading Stack

Here they are! Three are already in progress, but I added more to have plenty of variety.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (an essay)
What We Do Now: Standing Up for Your Values in Trump's America - Ed. by Dennis Johnson and Valerie Merians
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Newbery winner - also on audio)
Amsterdam - Ian McEwan
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog - Elizabeth Peters (3/4 done - also on audio)
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen (also on audio)
Moonglow - Michael Chabon
James Madison: A Biography - Ralph Ketcham (in progress)
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson (in progress)
Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie (on Kindle - not pictured)

I have a few things to do on the weekend, but I'll read all I can. Official start time is in 1 hour 10 minutes, so I'll hope to get in an hour or two tonight before I have to sleep. Good luck, all!

24 in 48 Readathon Coming Up!

Looks like I'll be able to participate in this Readathon for the first time! It's on January 21/22 and looks like a lot of fun (but how can a Readathon NOT be fun?!)  I seriously doubt I'll be able to make the 24 hours of reading, but I'll give it my best shot. Will be back with a book stack after some perusal and ponderance of my printed pages (hee hee - alliteration is my ally :)