Sunday, October 25, 2009

End of Event meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 20, I was really struggling but managed to keep going. This is the first time I have made it all the way through. I'm really happy about that fact.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs-Great, quick read

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Everything. For me personally being away from home with a lot less distractions worked really well.

5. How many books did you read?

I finished three. Two I had been reading already, one I started and finished today.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - Finished
Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer - Started
Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - Started & Finished
Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - Finished

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Surprisingly, Twilight

8. Which did you enjoy least?

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton I'm just glad I finished it as I have been struggling through it since last year!

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

N/A

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Definitely Will! As a reader and maybe a cheerleader.

End of Hour 24

This hour I read:

Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer - 15 pages

I read for 44 minutes

Total pages read: 512 pages

Total minutes read: 853

Books Finished: 3

End of Hour 23

This hour I read:

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 83 pages Finished It!

I read for 45 minutes

Total pages read: 497 pages

Total minutes read: 809

Books Finished: 3

I started this book today and finished it today. It was a neat book, some silly statements, some thoughtful. One hour to go!

End of Hour 22

This hour I read:

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 51 pages

I read for 27 minutes

Total pages read: 414 pages

Total minutes read: 764

Books Finished: 2

I took a bath at the start of the hour, just to wake me up a bit. It was enough to keep me going.

End of Hour 22

This hour I read:

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 51

I read for 27 minutes

Total pages read: 414 pages

Total minutes read: 764

Books Finished: 2

I took a bath at the start of the hour, just to wake me up a bit. It was enough to keep me going.

End of Hour 21

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 12 pages Finished It!

I read for 49 minutes

Total pages read: 363 pages

Total minutes read: 737

Books Finished: 2

I finished Eating My Words! Woohoo! This book was one I carried over from last year. It wasn't a long book, just one I struggled to get into so I kept setting it aside. I am so, so glad it's done with. I started it after reading Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl, which I adored. This didn't even come close to matching up to G&S. But now it's done and I couldn't be happier!

End of Hour 20

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 11 pages

I read for 40 minutes

Total pages read: 351 pages

Total minutes read: 688

Books Finished: 1

13 pages to go and I'll be done...gotta keep on going. Sweet Tea and Chocolate are getting me through!

End of Hour 19

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 12 pages

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 39 pages

Pages Read This Hour - 51

I read for 51 minutes

Total pages read: 340 pages

Total minutes read: 648

Books Finished: 1

Really struggling now. 25 pages left in Words but getting through each page is a struggle....I'm trying.

End of Hour 18

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 8 pages

I read for 26 minutes

Total pages read: 289 pages

Total minutes read: 597

Books Finished: 1

Took a walk around the hotel at the first part of the hour to wake me up a bit. The reading is slow now but I'm still going.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

End of Hour 17

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 8 pages

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 19 pages

Pages Read This Hour - 27

I read for 39 minutes

Total pages read: 289 pages

Total minutes read: 571

Books Finished: 1

Getting harder to concentrate now....think a little walk is called for. And definitely some more caffeine!

End of Hour 16

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 17 pages

I read for 45 minutes

Total pages read: 262 pages

Total minutes read: 532

Books Finished: 1

I have a little less than 60 pages left in Eating My Words so think I will stick with it for now. If I get really stuck I'll read a few pages of Not Quite What I Was Planning. But I'm definitely gonna try to get some more of Words read....

End of Hour 15

This hour I read:

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 19 pages

Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer - 7 pages

Pages Read This Hour - 26

I read for 30 minutes

Total pages read: 245 pages

Total minutes read: 487

Books Finished: 1

End of Hour 14

This hour I read:

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 6

I read for 35 minutes

Total pages read: 219 pages

Total minutes read: 457

Books Finished: 1

Hour 13 was spent running back to the house and taking care of the kiddos (cats). Hour 14 was dinner, so I got a little bit of reading done while at Steak & Shake.

I am going to attempt to read as much as I can of Eating My Words. This is the last book I carried over from last year. It's just not an easy read and I even lost the book at point this year. I have really struggled to finish it. Maybe if I split it up between reading this and Carpe Demon I can actually struggle through it!

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton (Will be the next hour)

2. How many books have you read so far?

Finished 1, read from two others

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Carpe Demon, as I just started it and it's quite funny.

Might see how much I can get done in Eating My Words, as it's been hanging around for quite some time now.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

We spent last night and tonight in a hotel.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Dog Barking...that's about it. Tried to go downstairs but it was noisier down there. Came back up to our room and just tuned the dog out.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How much more focused I have felt this time in comparison to read-a-thons past. I think being away from home helps.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nothing, it rocks!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nada

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Hmmm, a bit but we're going out to dinner and I think the refueling will help.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Lots of Sweet Tea (My source of caffeine), snacks and changing position a lot.

End of Hour 12

This hour I read:

Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs - 27 pages

Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer - 19 pages

Pages Read This Hour - 27

I read for 48 minutes

Total pages read: 213 pages

Total minutes read: 422

Books Finished: 1

I wasn't really feeling Not Quite What I Was Planning so I moved onto Carpe Demon. So far it's quite funny.

End of Hour 11

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 18 pages Finished It!

I read for 37 minutes

Total pages read: 186 pages

Total minutes read: 374

Books Finished: 1

I finished Twilight. Woohoo! That was a big goal for this read-a-thon for me. I tend to skip around with what I'm reading but I have stuck with this book all day.
Not sure what I'm reading next.....

End of Hour 10

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 18 pages

I read for 37 minutes

Total pages read: 186 pages

Total minutes read: 374

Books Finished: 0

End of Hour 9

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 17 pages

I read for 46 minutes

Total pages read: 168 pages

Total minutes read: 337

Books Finished: 0

There is an annoying dog next door to our room who is barking his head off and really distracting me. Grrrrr.

End of Hour 8

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 20 pages
It's really unusual for me to read one book for so long. I really wasn't that into this book at the midway point but now I am really interested to see how things turn out.

I read for 44 minutes

Total pages read: 151 pages

Total minutes read: 291

Books Finished: 0

End of Hour 7

Nothing new read.....Lunch Break..Now back to reading!

End of Hour 6

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 21 pages
I wasn't planning on sticking with the same book so long, but it's kept me interested so I have stuck with it. Who knows? I may wind up finishing it!

I read for 40 minutes

Total pages read: 131 pages

Total minutes read: 274

Books Finished: 0

Taking a break now to go get some lunch from the food court at the local mall.

End of Hour 5

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 24 pages
Some slight interruptions by Nilla this hour.

I read for 49 minutes

Total pages read: 110 pages

Total minutes read: 234

Books Finished: 0

End of Hour 4

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 22 pages

I read for 43 minutes

Total pages read: 86 pages

Total minutes read: 185

Books Finished: 0

End of Hour 3

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 24 pages

I read for 49 minutes

Total pages read: 64 pages

Total minutes read: 142

Books Finished: 0

End of Hour 2

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 11 pages

I read for 30 minutes

Total pages read: 40 pages

Total minutes read: 93

Books Finished: 0

Introduction Meme

Where are you reading from today?
La Quinta Hotel in Raleigh, NC

3 facts about me …
*Every 24 hour read-a-thon I have participated in, my husband has as well, so we have always done this together. We look forward to it.

*This is the first time I haven't done the read-a-thon from home. We had free nights we needed to use up so decided to use them for this.

*I don't usually eat breakfast. But when I am up early and doing things I am really hungry. So I have prob eaten more for breakfast today than I have in months.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
20, 4 of which I was already reading before the read-a-thon started. I like choices!

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Just to read an awful lot and enjoy the break from the real world. I would like to either finish Twilight or get a huge portion of it read.

Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Take breaks and read what you like, not what you think you should read. Have fun!

End of Hour 1

This hour I read:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - 29 pages
I am a little over half way through Twilight and it's slowly getting better. As I'm enjoying it I'll prob. read it for the next hour as well. If I get bored I have plenty of other books to try out.

I read for 63 minutes

It's sunny out and is just started pouring rain. Love the crazy weather.

Ready to Read

For the first time ever I am up and awake, ready for the read-a-thon! I'm still eating breakfast, but am ready to go. I'm going to start out with one of the books I am already reading, probably Twilight. Let the reading begin!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

My Read-A-Thon Book Pile



The read-a-thon is Saturday and I am working on getting my pile of books together. Richard and I are going to a local hotel for the read-a-thon (We have free nights to use up and figure the change of scenery will be nice.) so I have quite a few books to go with me, so I have plenty to choose from. Aside from my pile I also will be taking the books I am already reading:
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Eating My Words:An Appetite For Life by Mimi Sheraton, Fast Track by Fern Michaels & Dear Exile by Hilary Liftin & Kate Montgomery.

So in my pile I have:

Carpe Demon by Julie Kemmer-I have wanted to read this for awhile now.
Meg & the Disappearing Diamonds by Holly Beth Walker-This is an old childs book. I read some of this series when I was a little girl and found this at a used booksale.
Abigail Adams A Girl of Colonial Days by Jean Brown Wagoner-Another old childs book.
Real Murders by Charlaine Harris-I have read all by the newest Sookie Stackhouse series and love those. I liked her Grave series as well so am moving onto this one.
Derik's Bane by MaryJanice Davidson-I read a short story by this author in Bite and liked it so figured I would give this a go.
Death Waxed Over by Tim Myers-The first two in this series were quick and easy reads that I liked.
I'm the Vampire, That's Why by Michele Bardsley-This was recommended to me and fits into my supernatural kick at the moment.
I Am A Star by Inge Auerbacher-A serious but short read I had sitting around, waiting to be read.
There Was A Little Girl by Susan Rogers Cooper-One of my favorite mystery series of all time. I am taking my time working through this series.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke-Looked fun and light.
Number The Stars by Lois Lowry-Short book that others have raved about.
Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye-Looks fun and light. (And with vamps, which I love.)
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney-A YA book that looked different than my other choices.
Motherhood is Murder by Mult. Authors-I have enjoyed the short story books I have read this year so thought this might be fun. I haven't read any of these authors so should be interesting.
Not Quite What I Was Planning Six Word Memoirs-I waited for this book for over a year on Paperback Swap. Most of the pages are really short and it looks really interesting.

Amazingly, I didn't go out and buy any of these books for the read-a-thon. They were all here at my house, just waiting to be read. Theres no way I'll get through all of these but I like to have options...I can't wait to start!