1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 15. I was burnt out on reading. Also the last few hours of the challenge. I was trying so hard to finish Nursery Crimes and there just wasn't enough time.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Any of the Sisterhood novels by Fern Michaels.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, it's great as is.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Having all sorts of mini-challenges. They were great to do when I needed a break from reading.
5. How many books did you read? Almost two
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Payback by Fern Michaels
Vendetta by Fern Michaels
Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman
The Lottery Winner by Mary Higgins Clark
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Payback by Fern Michaels
8. Which did you enjoy least?
I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison
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? Very, very likely. A reader, for sure.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Summary of the Read-A-Thon
Over all I read:
I read 243 pages in 6 different books.
I read for 591 minutes.
I finished one book and almost finished another one. I started one book I discarded as I was not enjoying it.
I took part in three mini-challenges.
I won one prize.
By book I read:
Payback-52 pages. Finished this book.
Vendetta-7 pages. Started this book, read the prologue.
Nursery Crimes-146 pages. Almost finished this book.
Garlic and Sapphires-10 pages. Only read when eating.
The Lottery Winner-16 pages. Finished the short story I was reading.
On the bright side, I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God-12 pages. Started and discarded this book.
It was lots of fun, much more tiring than I thought and I got nowhere near as much read as I thought I would. I can't wait to do it again!
I read 243 pages in 6 different books.
I read for 591 minutes.
I finished one book and almost finished another one. I started one book I discarded as I was not enjoying it.
I took part in three mini-challenges.
I won one prize.
By book I read:
Payback-52 pages. Finished this book.
Vendetta-7 pages. Started this book, read the prologue.
Nursery Crimes-146 pages. Almost finished this book.
Garlic and Sapphires-10 pages. Only read when eating.
The Lottery Winner-16 pages. Finished the short story I was reading.
On the bright side, I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God-12 pages. Started and discarded this book.
It was lots of fun, much more tiring than I thought and I got nowhere near as much read as I thought I would. I can't wait to do it again!
Hours 22 - 24
I got up around 9:00 to get some reading in. Between 9 and 12 I was able to read:
47 pages in Nursery Crimes.
I read for 126 minutes.
I was hoping to finish off Nursery Crimes but just ran out of time. I have about 30 pages to go.
47 pages in Nursery Crimes.
I read for 126 minutes.
I was hoping to finish off Nursery Crimes but just ran out of time. I have about 30 pages to go.
Out of here
OK, I am off to shower and then to bed. I hope to get some reading in tomorrow before the end of the Read-A-Thon. Good luck all you crazy readers still up out there!
So tired
I am debating with myself about going to bed soon. I have to get up and head out tomorrow morning to pick up our cats from adoption center, drop them off at home, pick up another foster kitten and go to an adoptathon from 1-4. I'm on page 131 of my book and it has 215 pages so that's 85 pages left. No way will I finish it tonight, as my eyes are way too tired. I may post on some blogs and look around a bit but I think I am done reading for tonight. Maybe I can fit in some reading tomorrow on the way to pick up the kitties, which will be before the 12 pm cutoff.
Hour 15 Mini Challenge
Where is your current book set? If it’s a real place, go to wikipedia and find five interesting facts about the place and post about it in your blog.
My current book (Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman) is set in Los Angeles. I have never been there, even though I lived in San Francisco for almost three years. So, 5 interesting facts about L.A.:
1. It's the home of the L.A. Galaxy, my soccer teams arch rivals. Boo!
2. In West Hollywood it is illegal to declaw your cat. Yae!
3. It has 25 sister cities, one of which is Saint Petersburg, Russia.
4. The Cobb Salad was invented in L.A.
5. The Los Angeles Public Library has over 6 Million Volumes and has 71 branch locations. (I had to get a book fact in here!)
My current book (Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman) is set in Los Angeles. I have never been there, even though I lived in San Francisco for almost three years. So, 5 interesting facts about L.A.:
1. It's the home of the L.A. Galaxy, my soccer teams arch rivals. Boo!
2. In West Hollywood it is illegal to declaw your cat. Yae!
3. It has 25 sister cities, one of which is Saint Petersburg, Russia.
4. The Cobb Salad was invented in L.A.
5. The Los Angeles Public Library has over 6 Million Volumes and has 71 branch locations. (I had to get a book fact in here!)
End of Hour Fourteen
Time 1:57
I read 10 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 196
I read for 33 minutes.
Total minutes read: 465
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I am finding it harder to concentrate and I had a distraction as well. My baby foster kittens (8 weeks old) were crying to be fed. I went up and fed them and like a good momma stayed with them so they could run around a bit. Reading with kittens jumping over your legs is not the best for concentration!
I read 10 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 196
I read for 33 minutes.
Total minutes read: 465
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I am finding it harder to concentrate and I had a distraction as well. My baby foster kittens (8 weeks old) were crying to be fed. I went up and fed them and like a good momma stayed with them so they could run around a bit. Reading with kittens jumping over your legs is not the best for concentration!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Mid-Event Survey
1. What are you reading right now? Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman
2। How many books have you read so far? One but I had started it before today.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Vendetta by Fern Michaels, which I started today, but have only ready the Prologue. Not sure if I will start a new book, though I might to keep me motivated.
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really. We did decide not to go out for a optional trip.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A few, not many. One email I needed to answer and going out to get the kitties. Just did what needed to be done and came back to my book.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? It's harder than I thought it would be. Fun, but tiring.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, it's great as is. Though I also think it might be cool to do it twice a year, instead of just once.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I might have spent more time researching what I wanted to read. I didn't have a lot of time to plan this year.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Yep.
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? I jot down all my notes in my spiral bound journal (Pages read, minutes read, ect.) and then post it to my blog.
2। How many books have you read so far? One but I had started it before today.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Vendetta by Fern Michaels, which I started today, but have only ready the Prologue. Not sure if I will start a new book, though I might to keep me motivated.
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really. We did decide not to go out for a optional trip.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A few, not many. One email I needed to answer and going out to get the kitties. Just did what needed to be done and came back to my book.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? It's harder than I thought it would be. Fun, but tiring.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, it's great as is. Though I also think it might be cool to do it twice a year, instead of just once.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I might have spent more time researching what I wanted to read. I didn't have a lot of time to plan this year.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Yep.
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? I jot down all my notes in my spiral bound journal (Pages read, minutes read, ect.) and then post it to my blog.
End of Hour Thirteen
Time 12:53
I read 22 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 186
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 432
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I read 22 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 186
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 432
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
End of Hour Twelve
Time 11:57
I read 10 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 164
I read for 20 minutes.
Total minutes read: 395
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I read 10 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 164
I read for 20 minutes.
Total minutes read: 395
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
End of Hour Eleven
I took a break this hour...watched the end of the soccer game (a tie), played around on the computer and watched some T.V.
End of Hour Ten
Time 10:04
I read 4 pages of Garlic and Sapphires while eating our dinner of delivery pizza. I also read 7 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 154
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 375
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I ate some dinner and dealt with a pregnant kitty situation via email during this hour, and still managed to read a bit.
I read 4 pages of Garlic and Sapphires while eating our dinner of delivery pizza. I also read 7 pages of Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 154
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 375
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I ate some dinner and dealt with a pregnant kitty situation via email during this hour, and still managed to read a bit.
End of Hour Nine
Time 9:03
I read 3 pages in Nursery Crimes. I also read 7 pages in Vendetta by Fern Michaels.
Total pages read: 143
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 338
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
It's time for the Quakes soccer game, which makes it a bit harder to concentrate. So I started the next in the Sisterhood series which is quick and easy to read. I love this series!
I read 3 pages in Nursery Crimes. I also read 7 pages in Vendetta by Fern Michaels.
Total pages read: 143
I read for 37 minutes.
Total minutes read: 338
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
It's time for the Quakes soccer game, which makes it a bit harder to concentrate. So I started the next in the Sisterhood series which is quick and easy to read. I love this series!
End of Hour Seven & Eight
Time 8:00
I read 8 pages in Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 133
I read for 21 minutes.
Total minutes read: 301
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I ended up not reading anything while we were out, so only got to read for a short while after we got back.
I read 8 pages in Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 133
I read for 21 minutes.
Total minutes read: 301
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I ended up not reading anything while we were out, so only got to read for a short while after we got back.
End of Hour Six
Time 5:58
I read 21 pages in Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 125
I read for 42 minutes.
Total minutes read: 280
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
It's time for a short break now, as we need to head off to get two of our foster cats from the adoption center. I'll probably take a book with me in the car to read just a bit.
I read 21 pages in Nursery Crimes.
Total pages read: 125
I read for 42 minutes.
Total minutes read: 280
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
It's time for a short break now, as we need to head off to get two of our foster cats from the adoption center. I'll probably take a book with me in the car to read just a bit.
End of Hour Five
Time 5:00
I read 2 in The Lottery Winner, finishing the short story I was reading. I also read 18 pages in Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman.
Total pages read: 104
I read for 55 minutes.
Total minutes read: 238
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I had started Nursery Crimes before but hadn't read too much into it. It's a pretty easy read. Not sure if I am going to keep reading it this next hour or try something new. I should keep plugging away at The Lottery Winner but short stories just kill me. I'll finish it eventually.
I read 2 in The Lottery Winner, finishing the short story I was reading. I also read 18 pages in Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman.
Total pages read: 104
I read for 55 minutes.
Total minutes read: 238
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I had started Nursery Crimes before but hadn't read too much into it. It's a pretty easy read. Not sure if I am going to keep reading it this next hour or try something new. I should keep plugging away at The Lottery Winner but short stories just kill me. I'll finish it eventually.
End of Hour Four
Time 4:01
I read 10 pages in The Lottery Winner. I also read 12 pages in a new book called On the bright side, I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison.
Total pages read: 84
I read for 46 minutes.
Total minutes read: 183
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I discarded I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison after starting it. It wasn't what I expected. I was thinking it was Chic Lit and it was YA. I love YA but found the main characters voice in this book annoying.
I read 10 pages in The Lottery Winner. I also read 12 pages in a new book called On the bright side, I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison.
Total pages read: 84
I read for 46 minutes.
Total minutes read: 183
Books finished: Payback by Fern Michaels
I discarded I am now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison after starting it. It wasn't what I expected. I was thinking it was Chic Lit and it was YA. I love YA but found the main characters voice in this book annoying.
End of Hour Three
Time 3:02
I read 16 pages in Payback and finished it. I also read 4 pages in The Lottery Winner.
Total pages read: 62
I read for 53 minutes.
Total minutes read: 137
Book finished: Payback by Fern Michaels This is the second in the Sisterhood series and was a fun read. I am enjoying these books much more than I thought I would. Next I am going to finish the short story in The Lottery Winner that I am reading and then possibly take a break with another book. Short stories are just not my thing.
I read 16 pages in Payback and finished it. I also read 4 pages in The Lottery Winner.
Total pages read: 62
I read for 53 minutes.
Total minutes read: 137
Book finished: Payback by Fern Michaels This is the second in the Sisterhood series and was a fun read. I am enjoying these books much more than I thought I would. Next I am going to finish the short story in The Lottery Winner that I am reading and then possibly take a break with another book. Short stories are just not my thing.
End of Hour Two
Time 2:00
I read 10 pages in Payback.
Total pages read: 42
I read for 24 minutes, the other time was spent updating my blog and trying to get my feed to work.
Total minutes read: 84
Book finished: So far, none.
I read 10 pages in Payback.
Total pages read: 42
I read for 24 minutes, the other time was spent updating my blog and trying to get my feed to work.
Total minutes read: 84
Book finished: So far, none.
End of Hour One
Time 1:14
I read 6 pages in Garlic and Sapphires and 26 pages in Payback.
Total pages read: 32
Minutes read: 60, give or take a few. I answered the meme which took some time away from reading.
Book finished: So far, none.
I read 6 pages in Garlic and Sapphires and 26 pages in Payback.
Total pages read: 32
Minutes read: 60, give or take a few. I answered the meme which took some time away from reading.
Book finished: So far, none.
24 Hour Read-A-Thon Introduction Mem
Where are you reading from today?
My couch, for the most part. I may read on the bed for a bit and possibly in the car if we go out.
3 facts about me:
• It's a perfect reading day as I am tired and am looking forward to a day in. Plus we just got our AC replaced on Thursday after being without it for two weeks.
• Barring a miracle my husband will read more than me today.
• I could do a 24 hour read-a-thon for the next month and still have too many books to read!
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
19, counting the three I am already reading. I don't think I will get through half of them but I like to have 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)?
I want to finish at least two of the books I am currently reading and would love to get another one started and/or finished.
Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I'm one of those first timers, so no.
My couch, for the most part. I may read on the bed for a bit and possibly in the car if we go out.
3 facts about me:
• It's a perfect reading day as I am tired and am looking forward to a day in. Plus we just got our AC replaced on Thursday after being without it for two weeks.
• Barring a miracle my husband will read more than me today.
• I could do a 24 hour read-a-thon for the next month and still have too many books to read!
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
19, counting the three I am already reading. I don't think I will get through half of them but I like to have 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)?
I want to finish at least two of the books I am currently reading and would love to get another one started and/or finished.
Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I'm one of those first timers, so no.
Almost Time.....
to start the read-a-thon. I have a bagel here to eat and am ready to go. I will read a little of Garlic and Sapphires with breakfast then switch to Payback. Hope everyone else is as excited as I am.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Getting ready for the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon
I am very excited about the read-a-thon which starts tomorrow. (Well, technically today but it doesn't start till 12 my time.) I have one book I am almost done with, 50 or so pages to go. I'll read a bit tonight before I go to bed (I almost always do, thank to my Book Wedge.) and whatever I haven't finished I'll read tomorrow. I also have three other books going, one of which I am not going to try to finish. I am enjoying it so much I want to draw it out. The other two though, well one I am about half way through. It's short stories, which I am really not fond of. If I break it up I can probably finish it. And the other I am not too far into so it depends if I want to keep reading that tomorrow or start something new. I have a box by me on the couch all ready with some books to choose from. These are all books I had here at home, waiting to be read. Most are shorter books but all have been in my TBR boxes of which I have way too many. The funny thing is that Venus thinks the box is wonderful, and has decided the space between me and the box is the coziest spot in the house. Guess who will be my reading buddy tomorrow?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
July Book Blowout
I have hundreds of books waiting to be read. So, in order to challenge myself to read more I am taking part in the July Book Blowout. I am going to challenge myself to read five books in July. I usually can make it through two, so upping to five will be a challenge.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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