Read-a-thon Wrap Up

I fell asleep. But that's actually good. I'll be able to function today (mostly).

I squeezed in a little more reading. I got 110 more pages read from 1:20am to 1:55am.

Here are my totals for the read-a-thon:
Title of book(s) read since last update: I finished Fantastic Mr. Fox and started Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator both by Roald Dahl
Number of books read since you started: 5.5 plus part of a Harry Potter audiobook and 20 pages of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Pages read since last update: 110
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,018
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 35 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 12 hr
Mini-challenges completed: 4

It was fun. Hopefully next time I won't have so much to do around the read-a-thon and I'll be able to read more. Still, I'm pretty happy with how this one went.

One last huge thanks to all the cheerleaders. You all did such a great job motivating me to keep going. Whenever I felt tired, I'd come reread a cheer. It was great that even though I was reading alone for most of the day, it never felt like I was alone.

And thanks to the organizers and mini challenge hosts, everyone who helped put the read-a-thon on. It was great! I can't wait for April.

(If the 24 Hour Meme ever gets posted, I'll add my answers to this post.)
(Ask and you shall receive. These showed up right after I posted the above. )

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Probably Hour 1 (I had trouble choosing what book to start with) and Hour 21 (when I fell asleep)
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I enjoyed rereads from my childhood. They went pretty quickly because they're short, the language is easy, and I already knew the story. I also thought Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was a good read-a-thon book.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope. I think it went great.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I thought everything went really smoothly. The Cheerleaders were probably my favorite part (I know I've gushed about them a lot over the last 24 hours, but it's all deserved).
5. How many books did you read? 5.5 plus part of a Harry Potter audiobook and 20 pages of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
6. What were the names of the books you read?
* Animorphs 10: The Android
* Burning Bright (started before the read-a-thon)
* The Secret Lives of People in Love
* Animorphs 11: The Forgotten
* Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
* Fantastic Mr. Fox
* Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (partially read)
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (partially listened to) 
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Of the new reads (aka excluding the Animorphs books) I enjoyed Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day most
8. Which did you enjoy least? I enjoyed all of them. If I hadn't liked any, I would have stopped reading that book and started another.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I was not a Cheerleader, but might sign up to be one next time. 
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'm very likely to participate again if I'm free on that weekend in April. If I can participate for the full 24 hours, I might just read (just to see how much I can read if I fully devote myself to the 24 hours). If that read-a-thon is like this one though (with lots of interruptions throughout the day) I might sign up to read and be a cheerleader. Either way, I'm excited for the next read-a-thon!

Hour 18

Title of book(s) read since last update: I'm still reading Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. I would highly recommend this book for the read-a-thon. It's very entertaining and a quick read.
Number of books read since you started: 3.5 plus part of a Harry Potter audiobook
Pages read since last update: 74
Running total of pages read since you started: 831
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1hr 
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 10 hr 20min
Mini-challenges completed: 4

I ended up not taking a nap. That will come later. I really want to push and finish this book before midnight. I think I'm just going to miss that mark. We'll see.

Hour 16

Title of book(s) read since last update: I started Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Number of books read since you started: 3.5 plus part of a Harry Potter audiobook
Pages read since last update:  83
Running total of pages read since you started: 757
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1hr 15 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 9 hr 20min
Mini-challenges completed: 4

I think I need to take another break, chill out, move around, maybe nap a little. I think most of my updates have either involved taking a break or food. I promise I'm reading too, that's just not as interesting to write about.

Hour 13

I just got home and I'm feeling pretty good. Here's what I accomplished reading-wise while at work.

Title of book(s) read since last update: I finished The Secret Lives of People in Love and started The Forgotten (Animorphs 11)
Number of books read since you started: 2.5 plus part of a Harry Potter audiobook
Pages read since last update: 109, plus I listened to the equivalent of 33 pages
Running total of pages read since you started: 547
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1hr 40min reading, 55 min listening
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 7 hr 10min
Mini-challenges completed: 4

Now I'm off to eat dinner and read some more!

Mid-Event Survey

 1. What are you reading right now? Animorphs 11: The Forgotten

2. How many books have you read so far? 2.5 (plus some of an audio book)

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Not sure yet. I don't have a list and didn't pick out anything ahead of time. I'm just reading as the spirit moves me.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Unfortunately I had to work, so I haven't been reading all day.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I had to work, but I tried to read as much as I could (I was babysitting) while away from home.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How not daunting it's been. Maybe it's because I just had a huge break (we'll see how I'm doing in the early hours of the morning), but it hasn't been as challenging as I thought it would be.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope. I might at the end though. We'll see.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? If I were able to participate for the full 24 hours, I might sign up as a Reader and a Cheerleader. 

9. Are you getting tired yet? Not yet.

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? For me, I've read one YA title, one novel and a book of short stories. I think variety is the key. Also, even though I have a complex about finishing every book I start, for the read-a-thon, I would say if it doesn't interest you, pick up something else.

Hour 7

I've gotten no reading done this hour.

Instead I took a nap, ate lunch and rehydrated. Now I am about to change (I'm still in my pajamas) so I can go to work. This means no updates for a few hours. And by a few I mean six or seven. I'm going to try to keep reading while I'm gone and will post an update as soon as I get back to my computer.

Happy reading everyone!

PS And here's another shout out to the cheerleaders. I haven't responded to too many of you individually, but I have read all your comments/cheers/encouragements. Thanks so much! You're all awesome!!!

Hour 6

Title of book(s) read since last update: Still reading The Secret Lives of People in Love
Number of books read since you started: 1.5
Pages read since last update: 63
Running total of pages read since you started: 405
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 55min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 4 hr 35min
Mini-challenges completed: 3

Show Me the Books Mini Challenge

It's not a very good photo (I'm not a very good photographer), but this is one of my many TBR shelves. I own a ton of books that I've never read. Hopefully I'll get through a few of these today!

Hour 5

Title of book(s) read since last update: I finished Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier and started The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy
Number of books read since you started: 1.5 (I started Burning Bright before the read-a-thon)
Pages read since last update: 45
Running total of pages read since you started: 342
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min 
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3hr 40 min
Mini-challenges completed: 2

I took a little break from reading to eat a proper breakfast (bagel with cream cheese and lox) and watch this week's episode of The Big Bang Theory. Now I'm ready to read some more.

And I want to say thanks to all the cheerleaders! You're all doing a great job. I love seeing all your encouraging comments when I come here to post a new update.

Hour 3

Title of book(s) read since last update: I'm finishing Burning Bright (~30 pages to go)
Number of books read since you started: 1 finished, 1 almost finished (that I started before the read-a-thon)
Pages read since last update: 127
Running total of pages read since you started: 297
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1hr 40 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 2 (if you count the introduction meme) 

Back-in-the-Day Children’s Book Mini-Challenge

What were some of your favorite children’s books when you were younger? I mentioned in my first Monday Meme that I loved series as a child. One series I didn't mention is Harry Potter, but that might be because I read that series from childhood (age 11) to young adulthood (19). 

Do you have any new favorites now that you’re an adult? I recently read Ella Enchanted and am pretty sure I would have loved it as a kid. I enjoy rereading children's books I loved more than reading new ones though. I can't help but love them now because I loved them then. There's not that nostalgic element with children's books I read now. 

Have you included any children’s or YA titles in your Read-A-Thon stack this year? I have included some YA titles in my read-a-thon plans. I started with an Animorphs book and might break out a few more when I get tired.

Hour 2

Title of book(s) read since last update: Animorphs 10: The Android
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 170
Running total of pages read since you started: 170
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hr 30 mins
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 1hr 30 mins
Mini-challenges completed: 1
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 (I probably won't visit too many blogs this read-a-thon)
Prize you’ve won: 0

And now I'm going to make myself some tea and get something to eat. Then more reading!

Hour 1

Let the read-a-thon begin!

Where are you reading from today? From home and where I'll be babysitting later today (all in the Bay Area)
3 facts about me...  1. This is my first read-a-thon. 2. I'm a really good whistler. 3. I also love to knit.
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? I didn't make a pile. I'm just going to grab another book from my shelf as I finish one. I tried to make a pile, but it was going to be about 20 books big, which is overwhelming for one day.
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 just want to participate for as long as I can and read as much as I can. But I have to do some things today (which will cut into my reading time) and I have a lot of commitments tomorrow morning/afternoon (which require that I get some sleep tonight).
If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? This is my first read-a-thon. I hope some others out there have good advice!

Read-a-thon update

Today I was offered a baby sitting job on October 9 (the day of the read-a-thon) which will take up about 1/3 of my day. I took it. While it would have been nice to turn the job down and just read all day, I need the money to support my book and shoe habit. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in a little reading between sessions of playing Barbies.

I just started this blog for the 24 hour read-a-thon (to learn more go here). This is where I'll post my updates on the day. Hopefully it will look prettier and more polished then!