Tag: #readathon

24 Hour Take Control TBR Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
Take Control TBR Pile Read-a-thon
*Edited to correct the fact that the readathon isn’t until next Saturday…Sorry for any confusion.

Kimberly over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer is hosting the #TakeControlThon as part of the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge.  Anyone can participate, though, so if you haven’t heard about it yet, you should join in!  The only real rule is to read books from your TBR that were published before March 1st of this year.

I’ve known about this readathon for about a month, but my life got busy, and I completely forgot about it until I looked at my calendar late last night.  So, I don’t have a pile of books already stacked and ready to go yet.  I’m winging it for now.  However, I do know that my 1st book will be An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon since I was already in the middle of reading that before I got sidetracked by other books.  When I get to the point where I need a break, I’ll randomly pull a book off my shelf.  Or, maybe I’ll have my book life back in working order by next Saturday and will have a TBR list to add to my kick-off post.

I will also try to stay up as long as possible during the readathon, but I know I won’t be doing the entire 24 hours.  There is supposed to be a Twitter chat and some challenges, but I don’t know when or what, so I may or may not participate in those.  However, I will be posting an update or two.  Again, I’m winging it.

Are you participating in the #TakeControlThon?

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Final Update

Published on by Rachelle

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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

Published on by Rachelle

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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

Published on by Rachelle

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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

Published on by Rachelle

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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

Published on by Rachelle

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

Published on by Rachelle

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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!

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  • 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?

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Final Update

Published on by Rachelle

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I’ve survived another Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

  • Total Pages Read: 279 and the remaining 83% of Good Omens.
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: #Shelfie
  • Snacks Consumed: Mountain Dew, Challah bread, and cheese.
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Around 3am, when I got cranky.
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.  The chapters are all short, the writing is beautiful, and George Sand was an amazing and interesting ahead of her times character.
  3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, because it keeps getting better and better.
  4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The cheerleaders did an awesome job.  I loved that they were put into teams.
  5. How many books did you read? 3 and most of a 4th
  6. What were the names of the books you read? The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende, The Essential Feminist Reader, Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? ooh, that’s tough.  I have to say both The Essential Feminist Reader and The Dream Lover for very different reasons.
  8. Which did you enjoy least? The House of Spirits
  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 be participating in October, and I might sign up to be a cheerleader.

I’m going to bed now…

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 3

Published on by Rachelle

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There’s only 6 hours left of Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

  • Total Pages Read: 164 and the remaining 83% of Good Omens.
  • Books Read: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Be #FitReaders, Music is Muse, and Reading Story
  • Snacks Consumed: I had pizza for dinner, and I also got a chocolate chip cookie “pie” and a 2 Liter of Mountain Dew to go with it.

The #readathon tweets have slowed down considerably, and since Good Omens was an audiobook, I was able to multitask.  I’m beginning to get sleepy now.

Until my final update, at 7am, I’ll continue knocking off the books on my goal list:

  • The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

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

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 2

Published on by Rachelle

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It’s an hour past the halfway point of Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon and I’m still going strong!

  • Total Pages Read: 164
  • Books Read: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and The Essential Feminist Reader
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Plan a Bookish Party and the Mid-Event Survey
  • Snacks Consumed: Not really a snack, but Chinese food.  I also had a home made quesadilla and an iced chai.

I haven’t done much better than I did for the 1st 6 hours, but I’m still having a ton of fun lurking and favoriting on #readathon tweets.  I absolutely loved, reread, and bookmarked many a page of The Essential Feminist Reader, and I’ve listened to lots of music by my favorite Riot Grrrl bands.

Until my 3rd update, at 1am, I’ll be knocking off the books on my goal list:

  • Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
  • The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

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