Month: October 2015

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Final Update

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I’ve survived another Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

  • Total Pages Read: 534
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Shelfie
  • Snacks Consumed: more pretzel sticks and cheese dip, cheese and crackers, and grapes.
  • Amount I’m donating to Pencils of Promise: Even though I didn’t get anywhere near 1,000 pages or 10 books, I’ve donated $10.
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? 3 am when I finally allowed myself to go to sleep.
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I don’t have any specific titles from this time around, but I do know that shorter reads, graphic novels, and audiobooks help keep me going.
  3. Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the Readathon next year?  Nope, this readathon was even better than the last.
  4. What do you think worked well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I was a cheerleader this time, and I loved how easy it was to accomplish my cheerleading duties.  Also, everything seemed to go much more smoothly than in April, though I’m not sure why or what exactly made it that way.
  5. How many books did you read? 3, but I also read part of The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood, and (though it wasn’t on my list) Bird Box by Josh Malerman.
  6. What were the names of the books you read?  Sandman, Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, and Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  8. Which did you enjoy least? Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy
  9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? Cheer early and several times throughout the event, just in case you fall asleep.
  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 be participating again, and I will probably be a cheerleader again as well.

I’m going back to bed now…

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 2

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I’ve survived 16 hours of Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

  • Pages Read: 166
  • Books Read: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Mid-Event Survey and Accio Cinnamon Rolls
  • Snacks Consumed: pretzel sticks and jalepeño cheese dip, pumpkin seeds, and cheese pizza snacks.

I finished another book, but I didn’t read nearly as many pages as I did during the 1st 8 hours.  As far as donations go, though, I’m up to $4.  I did some more cheerleading, in addition to the mini-challenges and general socializing, and now I’m listening to one of my “Goosebumps” audiobooks while getting some stuff done around the apartment and taking a break to move around a bit.  Once I’m done, I plan on reading The Wendigo.

Until my final update and wrap up, at 7 am, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks

Whether you’re participating in the read-a-thon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Mid-Event Survey

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It’s time for Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon Mid-Event Survey!

1. What are you reading right now? The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
2. How many books have you read so far? 1, but I also read a few pages of The Witching Hour by Anne Rice.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?  I’m still really looking forward to The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Dresden, my extremely needy, demanding, and trouble-making cat, frequently tried to collapse my reading Fort.  How did I deal with that?  As calmly as a cat parent can and took the Fort down.  He must have considered his job done because he sauntered off to his cat “castle” and went to sleep.
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  How much reading, cheering, and general socializing I’ve managed to do considering Dresden’s antics and attempts at walking across the sheet that was the top of my Fort.

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 1

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I’ve survived the first 8 hours of Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

I should not set goals more often!  So far, I’ve read three times as much as I did by this time during the last readathon.  That may be due to me reading a graphic novel, but I think I’ve also gotten better at finishing up online stuff faster and more efficiently so I can get back to reading.  As far as donations go, I’m up to $2 ($1 for every 100 pages or 1 book read, whichever is greater).  I’ve also done some cheerleading, and I’m about to do some more 🙂

Until my 2nd update, at 11 pm, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks

Whether you’re participating in the read-a-thon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Cover Escape Mini-Challenge

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Audra @ Unabridged Chick has challenged those of us participating in Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon to find a book with a cover we would love to escape to and away from where we’re at now.

Lisey's Story

I chose the cover of Lisey’s Story by Stephen King.  I understand that most people living anywhere that isn’t Texas won’t understand how anyone could possibly want to escape to all that snow, but it’s still getting up into the mid to high 90s here in Austin!  Also, I’m not a native, and I was born during the Winter in a considerably colder locale (Japan).  I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the Texas heat, no matter how long I live in the South.  It’s been over four years now, and I’m not convinced I’m acclimated yet.  Plus, I miss snow!!!  I also miss all the wintry stuff that I used to wear and do when I was a kid staying at my grandparent’s house in Wisconsin.  Yeah, I know, shoveling is back-breaking work that no one wants to do, and the salt on the roads slowly destroys cars but forget about all that grown up stuff.  If you’ve ever built a snow fort, snowman, or created an angel in the snow, remember how much fun you had, and the taste of hot chocolate and peppermint sticks, and the smell of pine trees and that crisp cold air.  Don’t even get me started on Christmas!  *sigh*

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon – #ReadingForACause

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Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon has officially started!  I prepped my coffee maker last night, so all I had to do when I got up at 6:30 am was turn it on, make my breakfast (yogurt and a bagel with butter), and get my browser ready to go with all my readathon related sites.  I’ve been running off a readathon excitement high since Thursday, and I created a reading “Fort” in my living room with the help of the Boyfriend!

2015-10-17 06.45.13 2015-10-17 06.52.55

  • What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m in Austin, TX.
  • Which book in your stack are you looking forward to the most? The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff.
  • Which snack are you looking forward to the most? Pretzel sticks and jalepeño cheese dip.
  • Tell us a little something about yourself!  Here are 20 somethings about myself.  Also, I love Dinosaurs.  RAWR!
  • If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?  I don’t have a reading goal this time around, but I am reading along a theme.  I’ve also added a graphic novel to my stack of books.  I’m not new to graphic novels and comics, but it’s been a long time and I’ve never read any for a readathon.  Also, I’m donating $1 for every 100 pages OR 1 book I read during the readathon to Pencils of Promise.  It’s not much, but it’s all I can afford right now.  If you would like to support me in fundraising, please consider matching my donation.

Halloween Reading

Here’s my Halloween-themed book list:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks
  • The Sandman, Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman

My first update will be at 3 pm.  Even though I don’t have a reading goal, I’ll still be tracking how many pages I read and any books I finish so that I, and all of you, know how much money I’m donating to Pencils of Promise.  I’ll also include mini-challenges I’ve accepted, snacks I’ve nommed, and any musical earworms that have gotten into my head.

Whether you’re participating in the readathon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?  Would you consider helping me out to raise money for Pencils of Promise?

 

The Joy Luck Club Read-Along: Week 6 Recap

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Joy

Welcome to the 6th weekly recap of The Joy Luck Club read-along!  Next Saturday, Oct. 24th, I will be posting a review of the whole book.

This week, we read two chapters, each about one of the mothers.  I don’t like Ying-ying St. Clair.  Out of all the mothers, I think she’s the worst.

[Spoilers] I think she was a spoiled brat as a child, and though she doesn’t say that outright, she does admit to being very vain.  I want to feel sympathy for her that her first husband was a horrible man and abandoned her to run off with some other woman.  I want to cry for her that she aborted her baby.  However, I don’t feel anything for her except dislike.  I don’t hate her.  I just think she’s a sour emotionless woman that doesn’t care about anyone and is only full of negativity about everything.  I feel the opposite for An-mei Hsu: “…I was raised the Chinese way: I was taught to desire nothing, to swallow other people’s misery, to eat my own bitterness.”   She at least understands how she tried to raise her daughter differently, but she only has the tools that she learned from her mother, who learned them from her mother, etc.  Reading her words about how Rose turned out the same way despite her efforts gave me space and permission to forgive my mother and my grandmother.  While I know now that forgiveness doesn’t mean I have to allow either of them to be in my life, it does mean I can let go of the anger and confusion.  At least some of it anyway.  I know it’s a work in progress.  While I don’t know for sure if An-mei knows how close Rose was to ending her life as An-mei’s mother did, perhaps she does suspect it.  I think An-mei is the wisest about her daughter than any of the other mothers are about theirs.  [End Spoilers]

What do you think of Ying-ying?  An-mei?  Comment away!  Just be sure to mark clearly any spoilers 🙂

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!

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Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon begins tomorrow, at 7 am CST, but I wanted to share with all of you what I’ll be doing.

First off, the books.  Since I’m also participating in RIP X, my reading will be Horror-themed.  I’ll switch back and forth between books on the list as needed:

  • The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  • The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Hyde by Daniel Levine
  • The Bell Witch by John F.D. Taff
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • “Goosebumps” audiobooks

This time around, I don’t care so much about how many books I finish.  I just want to relax and have a good time.  I also signed up as a cheerleader, so for me this readathon is more about socializing and participating in mini-challenges than it is about how many books and pages I read.  I’ll still provide that information in my updates, which will be every 8 hours after my kick-off post.  Along with the books I’ve finished and the number of pages I’ve read, I’ll include any mini-challenges I’ve participated in, along with other tidbits such as music or snacks.

Are you participating in Dewey’s Readathon?  If so, what books do you have planned to read?  Leave a comment, and include your link if you have a “goals” post!

 

Thursday’s Things #11: Halloween Edition

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1001 Things
                Original Image: Viktor Hertz

As promised, here’s the second “Thursday’s Things” post for this month.  All of the links are related to Halloween, Horror, or Gothic literature in some way.

#FitReaders Check-In #41

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Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for October 5th – 11th.
  • I didn’t meet my step or distance goal, but I still managed to get more steps than I did the previous week and I finally met my active minutes goal!
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Yoga Workouts: 0/5
  • Steps: 44,306/63,000
  • Miles: 18.21/21
  • Flights of stairs: 163/70
  • Active Minutes: 216/210
  • Total Money Donated: $27.91