End of the Event Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 21, the last one I did.

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

Under The Duvet
The Devils' Arithmetic
Some of Tim Myers Candlemaking Mysteries

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

Nope, it's great!

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

Everything

5. How many books did you read?

I finished two and started two more, one of which I almost finished.

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

Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes - Finished
Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handelhan - Finished
Eating My Words:An Appetite For Life by Mimi Sheraton
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolan
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Any Given Doomsday & The Devil's Arithmetic

8. Which did you enjoy least?

Eating My Words-It's a good book, but not as good as Garlic and Sapphires

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 as a reader!

End of Hour 21

I'm calling this hour a bit early as I am tired and heading off to bed.

The Devil's Arithmetic - 8 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 8

Total pages read: 254

Minutes Read: Aprox. 677

I only have 36 pages to go in my book but I am too tired to keep going. It's bed time for me.

End of Hour 20

The Devil's Arithmetic - 22 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 22

Total pages read: 246

Minutes Read: Aprox. 661

End of Hour 19

Dead Until Dark - 12 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 12

Total pages read: 224

Minutes Read: Aprox. 608

Spent some time reading with Muzzy, our 16 year old foster kitty and then with the foster boys (and Katie) in Richard's office. My eyes are beginning to feel like they are crossing. I'm trying to keep going a bit longer.....

End of Hour 18

The Devil's Arithmetic - 9 pages

Dead Until Dark - 8 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 17

Total pages read: 212

Minutes Read: Aprox. 569

Had a snack of a bagel with cream cheese, to give me an energy boost. It worked!

End of Hour 17

The Devil's Arithmetic - 16 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 16

Total pages read: 195

Minutes Read: Aprox. 530

End of Hour 16

The Devil's Arithmetic - 3 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 3

Total pages read: 179

Minutes Read: Aprox. 487

The games almost over and my boys are kicking LA butt! Will pick up my reading speed when the games done.

End of Hour 15

The Devil's Arithmetic - 4 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 4

Total pages read: 176

Minutes Read: Aprox. 469

Not getting much reading done as Houston Dynamo is playing and they are my boys.

End of Hour 14

The Devil's Arithmetic - 6 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 6

Total pages read: 172

Minutes Read: Aprox. 430

End of Hour 13

The Devil's Arithmetic - 5 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 5

Total pages read: 166

Minutes Read: Aprox. 397

Took a bit of a break, watched some soccer, did some mini-challenges and visited a few blogs.

The Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge

Mac
Everett Library
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Spencer Public Library

Puss in Books,

Dewey Readmore Books

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

The Devil's Arithmetic

2. How many books have you read so far?

Finished two that I had started before the challenge

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

Reading more of The Devil's Arithmetic. So far it's a very good book.

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

Not really anything special, just made sure to keep the day free.

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

Meals and the cats getting into stuff.

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

How tired reading can make you!

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

I wish it started later. I know it's the same it is to try and be the best for all time zones but I am just not a morning person.

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

Nothing.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Yes! Am taking a bit of a break, watching a soccer game and getting some caffeine in me.

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?

A change of scenery works wonders. We went out to dinner at a local cafe where we could eat and that gave me a boost.

End of Hour 12

The Devil's Arithmetic - 5 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 5

Total pages read: 161

Minutes Read: Aprox. 382

Read during dinner at Panera

End of Hour 11

The Devil's Arithmetic - 14 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 14

Total pages read: 156

Minutes Read: Aprox. 363

Read during dinner at Panera

End of Hour 10

The Devil's Arithmetic - 11 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 11

Total pages read: 142

Minutes Read: Aprox. 327

Off to get some dinner now.....

End of Hour 9

The Devil's Arithmetic - 6 pages
So far I am really enjoying this book.

Dead Until Dark - 12 pages
Not too sure about this one yet.

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 18

Total pages read: 131

Minutes Read: Aprox. 305

End of Hour 8

I spent the first 15 minutes listing my new books on Shelfari, ect.

The Devil's Arithmetic - 25 pages

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 25

Total pages read: 113

Minutes Read: Aprox. 263

End of Hour 7

I spent the last part of this hour figuring out what to read next. Since I finished two today I started two new books as well.

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 26 pages Finished it!

Books Finished - 2

Pages this hour - 26

Total pages read: 88

End of Hour 6

Time for lunch, so this hour I only read a little over 30 minutes.

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 11 pages

Books Finished - 1

Pages this hour - 11

Total pages read: 62

End of Hour 5

Under the Duvet by Marian Keys - 11 pages Finished it!

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 9 pages

Books Finished - 1

Pages this hour - 20

Total pages read: 51

End of Hour 4

Under the Duvet by Marian Keys - 5 pages

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 11 pages

Pages this hour - 16

Total pages read: 31

Read-A-Thon Introduction Meme

Where are you reading from today?

So far, the couch in our living room. I'm sure I'll wind up reading in our bedroom a bit and we have planned dinner out at a local sandwich place where we can read while we eat.

3 facts about me …

1. I'm a scattered reader, reading from multiple books at one time.

2. I turned the heat on for the first time this year since it's chilly and I want to be cozy to read.

3. My cats think this read-a-thon is wonderful, as it means both myself and Richard and lounging in the living room today.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Way too many! 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 two of my books I am currently reading (Under the Duvet & Any Given Doomsday). I like easy, attainable goals!

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

This is my second read-a-thon. I guess the thing I find helpful is to take short breaks when I feel burnt out and to have multiple books going so I have plenty to choose from.

End of Hour 3

I got a late start on the read-a-thon. I tried to get going on time but it was impossible for me to get going at 8 a.m. Here's what I read this hour (the first hour for me, third for everyone else.)

Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton - 4 pages

Under the Duvet by Marian Keys - 6 pages

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - 5 pages

Total pages read: 15

The Jury by Fern Michaels

I finished this book early on this month and am just now getting around to posting it (A bit of housekeeping before tomorrow's read-a-thon). This is the fourth in The Sisterhood series and my least favorite so far. It felt a bit disjointed to me. Having said that, I love this series and it came as such a surprise to me. I was not expecting to be sucked in by it and yet, I have been! Since I started the series back in June I have always had one of the books going. I rarely do that with a series, preferring to space them out. But I have been so intrigued with the characters and the whole premise of the books (A group of women who seek revenge on those who have done them wrong and whom the justice system has failed to punish.) that I have kept reading. I am currently reading the next in the series, Sweet Revenge, along with four other books. If I wasn't reading other books at the same time I could have quite easily finished the series by now. I am so glad there is a follow up series that is currently being written. I will have more books to read in the Sisterhood series for quite a while to come!

Bridget Jones Diary & A Change in Challenges

I tried to read Bridget Jones in September. I made it to page 60 and found I just really wasn't enjoying the book at all. Since life is too short and there are so many good books out there I gave up on it.

This book would have counted towards two challenges (New Classics & Book to Movie Challenge). However I have found I really only enjoy the challenges that have very loose guidelines. Otherwise I feel pressured to read certain books and end up not enjoying them. I do best with challenges like the Cozy Mystery Challenge and the July Book Blow out, where I set the number and chose the books. Otherwise I seem to lose the joy in reading. So from now on I am going to be a lot more selective in challenges and most likely will not finish the two mentioned above. I never was very good at reading books I was told to read so this should come as no surprise! Since reading for me is all about enjoyment I know this is the right decision.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon

This Saturday is another 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. I have quite a few books I am close to finishing up so I should be able to finish them off on Saturday. I am in a reading mood at the moment so hopefully this will be a good Read-A-Thon for me. Of course, Richard will no doubt outread me! I also have a few posts I need to make on here about some books I have finished. Last time was great and this one should be a fun day.

Cozy Mystery Challenge Wrap-Up

My goal for this challenge was to read three cozy mysteries. I didn't really make a list to start with, just chose some likely candidates. I did read one book I mentioned (Snuffed Out, second in the candle series) but did not read any by Laura Childs.

I read:
The Big Nap by Ayelet Waldman
Home Again, Home Again by Susan Rogers Cooper
Snuffed Out by Tim Myers

I enjoyed all three books and can't wait to do this challenge again.