#TakeControlThon – What Happened?

Take Control TBR Pile Read-a-thon

Well, I read a little more than half of The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  I also had to go with the Boyfriend to sign the lease on our new apartment.  I dealt with frequent, though enjoyable, interruptions from both him and our cat, Dresden.  I ate my veggie platter and some trail mix for snacks lunch.  We watched an episode of House of Cards while we ate take-out so I wouldn’t have to cook during the readathon (not that it saved me much time, but the Boyfriend didn’t have to twist my arm to convince me it was a good idea).

So, when it came time to write an update, I didn’t want to take even more time away from my reading.  I wanted to finish the book.  I wished it was today, Sunday when the Boyfriend is at work and the only interruptions I have for most of the day are the cat and laundry.  I usually don’t have to get dressed or go anywhere or do much of anything until it’s time to make dinner.  But no, it was Saturday, the day when I usually try to do everything I can’t get done during the week so I can relax on Sunday.  I didn’t do most of it so I could attempt, but ultimately flail* to do this readathon, and now I have to do it all today when I would rather be reading without interruption.

I also lost about 10 hours of the readathon right out of the gate because it started at midnight.  There was no way I was going to try to stay up for 24 hours after I had already been up since 6:30 am that morning.  I knew that going in, but I’m still a bit frustrated by the idea of starting a readathon at midnight.  One of the things I love about Dewey’s is that at least for my time zone, it begins in the morning after a good night of sleep.

So, that’s what happened.  Sorry for the rant.  I’m just irritated about the whole thing, especially the fact that I didn’t finish The Thirteenth Tale, which, by the way, is an amazing book so far.  I’ll be lucky if I find the time to finish it by the end of next week.

*This is not a typo.  Accomplishing any amount of reading is never a failure.

 

#TakeControlThon – Let the Reading Begin!

Take Control TBR Pile Read-a-thon

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 you should join in!  The only real rule is to read books from your TBR that were published before March 1st of this year.

Do I have a TBR list for this readathon?  No.  However, I do know that I’ll be reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  I started it while I was on my lunch break at work and I couldn’t wait to get home to continue reading.  If that feeling continues, and I think it will, I have no idea if I’ll be reading anything else.

I will try to stay up as long as possible during the readathon since I would like to read more than one book, but I know I won’t be doing the entire 24 hours.  However, I will be posting an update or two.  Right now, the only thing I truly have planned is what snacks I’m eating.  I got a veggie tray and some pretzels and hummus.  Everything else, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, will be spur of the moment, flying by the seat of my pants, winging it.  Why?  Because I have a pile of scribbled on post-it notes detailing all the things I have or want to do in the near future, and I spent most of the week suffering from severe headaches or out doing other important things that kept me from organizing it all into easily manageable chunks and updating my day planner.  So I don’t have a clue what I’m doing right now.  Also, I spent Friday night watching New Girl.  Don’t judge.

Are you participating in the #TakeControlThon?

24 Hour Take Control TBR Readathon!

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?

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge

Take Control of Your TBR Pile

The Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge is entering its fourth year, but this is the first year I’ll be participating.

The Rules:

For the entire month of March, read books in your TBR pile released before March 1, 2016. They can be eBooks, physical books, or audiobooks.

My Goals:

  • I will read nothing but physical books I already own.  That means no borrowed books, whether from the library, a friend, or the Boyfriend’s bookshelves.
  • I’ll update my progress in my weekly “Monday’s Minutes” posts, and write a final wrap-up post at the end of the month.
  • I’ll also write a review for every book I read.
  • I will participate in the 24-hour TBR Readathon on March 12th.
  • I will try to participate in the Twitter party on March 16th.

My TBR:

As you all know by now, I have an entire floor to ceiling bookcase full of books I’ve never read.  Thanks to the Boyfriend and giveaway winnings, I haven’t cleared out any space yet this year.  While I also haven’t run out of space again, that needs to change because we’re moving in March, and I’d love to have at least one box of books headed to the used bookstore before then.  While I don’t have any specific books I plan to read during the challenge, I do plan on attacking the paperbacks I’m pretty sure I won’t want to keep after I finish them.

March 2015 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge

March 2015 Take Control of Your TBR Pile

 

Take Control of Your TBR pile is back for its third year, but this will be the first time I’m participating.  For the month of March I’ll read books in my TBR pile that were released before March 1, 2015.

The Rules:

  • Link-up!
  • Make a Goals/updates/Results post (can be combined).
  • Begins March 1st, 2015 and ends March 31, 2015 at midnight.
  • Read/listen to books from your TBR pile.
  • ALL books must have been published before March 1st, 2015.
  • Post a review and then link it to the Rafflecopter for an entry.
  • You can combine events, challenges, etc. (I’m combining this with all of my current challenges.)
  • No novellas.
  • The rafflecopter will only allow two books to be entered per person per day, so update as soon as you finish a book.
  • Earn an extra entry for adding the Take Control Button to your blog with a link-back.
  • Use hashtag #TakeControlTBR
  • There will be a Twitter Party and a read-a-thon (To be announced).
  • The Rafflecopter will close on April 2, 2015 at midnight and a winner will be chosen within 72 hours. The Prize is a new 2015 release valued up to $20.00.

My Goals:

  • I’m going to try to finish 4 books.  I’ve already chosen 3 of them:
  • I’ll include updates in my Monday’s Minutes posts each week.
  • I’m going to do my best to participate in the Twitter Party and the read-a-thon, depending on when they will be.