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Sunday, October 25, 2009

24 Hour Read-A-Thon Challenge!

Hello Read-a-thon challenge takers! How are you guys doing? Has your vision started to blur yet? Do you have your coffee by your side? Have the characters you're reading about started to converse with you in waking dreams? If not, there's still time.


On to the challenge...
(Drumroll, drumroll, etc.)


Your mission, which you MUST accept, is to turn to page 23 of the book you're currently reading (or the nearest page with text on it) and find the most entertaining phrase to complete the following sentence:


"I would rather read than _____________ any night!"


Post your sentence in the comments section for all of our amusement! Fight through the exhaustion! We know you can do it!!


Don't forget to mention which book your new sentence of awesomeness comes from! There will be a prize for one winner (the choice of three books from the Readathon organizers and contributers. You can check out the the list of prizes here)


Happy reading! ;)

Shel and Monica

(Update 2:30: Monica Look! Look at all these *comments*! I'm feeling flush with success, Shel, how about you? Or... or maybe that's the fatigue talking....)

(Update 3:30: Monica Keep them coming, guys! We're going to keep it going for another hour and a half, which is plenty of time for y'all to start a *second* book!)

Update 5:01: Shel Stop! STOP NOW! 92 responses!!! Gad zooks, readers. You're all awesome!!!!! We'll announce the winner soon. I must call Monica..and possibly summon her back from the warm and loving arms of Lady DeathSleep.

(Update 5:19: Monica I know, aren't they so awesome? I want to keep them all for our very own, like a gigantic posting reading posse, but... I am not under any illusions. We all know they're in it for the FANTASTIC PRIZES THANK YOU READATHON!)
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93 comments:

  1. Trish @ Love, Laughter, InsanityOctober 25, 2009 at 1:59 AM

    Let's go
    Let's go, chip in, it's time to cheer,
    It's simple, yell what you hear,
    Go Reader Go,
    Go Reader Go,
    Fire up and scream,
    Read
    Read Read!

    Go Shel!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 25, 2009 at 2:00 AM

    I would rather read than draw my initial on the window's frosty pains any night!

    Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

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  3. DeborahOctober 25, 2009 at 2:01 AM

    I would rather read than HAVE SEX every night.

    Cyber Cinderella by Christina HOpkinson

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  4. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:01 AM

    "I would rather read than mix a lot of sawdust any night!"

    "I would rather read than wear jackets with large brightly-colored checks any night!"

    "I would rather read than use my brains any night!"

    Matilda by Roald Dahl =)

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  5. Jenn and The Cats of Castle CoullOctober 25, 2009 at 2:02 AM

    "I would rather read than moo goo gai pan any night!"

    Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton

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  6. EricaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:02 AM

    The exhaustion is getting to me. I've barely read the last few hours I'm so tired.

    BUT...

    I'd rather read than wonder if i look weird any night

    ReplyDelete
  7. SamanthaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:02 AM

    I would rather read than (I) sit up and comfort myself with the reminder that it was just a dream - I have been dreaming this and now I'm awake any night!

    Sentence from page 23 of Bloodroot by Susan Wittig Albert

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  8. UnknownOctober 25, 2009 at 2:02 AM

    "I would rather read than socialize with the hired help any night!"

    Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

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  9. EricaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:02 AM

    Oh and that was from Hold Still by Nina LaCour

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  10. vickieOctober 25, 2009 at 2:03 AM

    "I would rather read than permit myself one glance at the Cullen family's table."

    twilight by stephenie meyer

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  11. melissa @ 1lbrOctober 25, 2009 at 2:03 AM

    I would rather read than pretend to be looking in his eyes any night!

    Between Me and the River by Carrie Host

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  12. SarahOctober 25, 2009 at 2:03 AM

    I would rather read than balloon any night!

    Gosh darn it, The Burn Journals, why did you have to make page 23 one of the pages with only 1-2 sentences on it? :|

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jennay and Luke the PupOctober 25, 2009 at 2:03 AM

    I would rather read than 'start the day off on the right foot' any night!

    The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti!!!

    jennifer @ www.myteatimeisbooktime.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. The ShepardsOctober 25, 2009 at 2:04 AM

    "I would rather read than pay premium salaries, living expenses, and moving expenses any night!"

    Garden Spells- Sarah Addison Allen

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  15. CindyOctober 25, 2009 at 2:04 AM

    I would rather read than trade my parents for anything anynight.

    Taken by The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

    Cindy
    princessbookie.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. MargOctober 25, 2009 at 2:04 AM

    I would rather read than be 'married off to some unlanded, unblooded upstart who wishes to use me for his own ambition.'

    The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick

    Fun mini challenge

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  17. NataliaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    "I would rather read than flush becomingly with rage any night!"

    Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown

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  18. CassOctober 25, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    "I would rather read than have spells of manic loquaciousness any night!"

    Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

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  19. KatrinaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:06 AM

    "I would rather read than store all my books in the basement any night!"
    ~ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mark BakerOctober 25, 2009 at 2:07 AM

    I would rather read than find a pile of horse dung every night.

    Dial H for Hitchcock by Susan Kandel

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  21. KristiOctober 25, 2009 at 2:08 AM

    I would rather read than "throw the Huns back where they came from" any night!

    from Night of Flames by Douglas Jacobson

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  22. ElsiOctober 25, 2009 at 2:08 AM

    From Shakespeare's Christmas, I would rather read that [be] covered with consumer goods any night.

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  23. KimOctober 25, 2009 at 2:08 AM

    I would rather read then scrape corn flakes out of the bottom of a plastic potty any night!

    (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

    ReplyDelete
  24. wolf_sdrawkcabOctober 25, 2009 at 2:08 AM

    I would rather read than [try] to remember where I [am] and what [is] going on any night!

    Doppelganger- David Stahler Jr.

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  25. UnknownOctober 25, 2009 at 2:08 AM

    I would rather read than be a slut any night!

    Sorry, my page is not very helpful tonight ;-) My book is 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

    ReplyDelete
  26. JennieOctober 25, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I would rather read than begin in Heidelberg any night!

    From Vogelein, Clockwork Faerie by Jane Irwin.

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  27. UnknownOctober 25, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I would rather read than splodge orange paint any night!

    Still currently reading High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

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  28. WendyOctober 25, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I would rather read than camp on the roof any night!

    From page 23 of The Cradle by Patrick Somerville.

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  29. LauraOctober 25, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    I would rather read than provide recreation for British armed forces personnel any night!

    Home, memior of Julie Andrews

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  30. Michelle Stockard MillerOctober 25, 2009 at 2:09 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. PiperMLOctober 25, 2009 at 2:10 AM

    I would rather read than phone James, to clear the air, to apologize any night!

    Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell by M.C. Beaton

    Great challenge idea! Thanks for helping keep us all going in the wee hours.

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    "I would rather read than be sophisticated enough any night!"

    Chances of a lifetime - Warren Christopher

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  33. Tif SweeneyOctober 25, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    I would rather read than sit in the back of the Dursley's car any night!!

    Can you guess which book I'm reading?!? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!!!

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  34. alisonwonderlandOctober 25, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    I would rather read than "arrange an accident" any night!

    From Catching Fire.

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  35. LuluetteOctober 25, 2009 at 2:12 AM

    "I would rather read than 'degenerage into hideous pupprts' any night!"

    Compliments of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde...

    : )

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  36. PetuniaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:12 AM

    I would rather read than palpitate outside the door any night.

    I would rather read than continually see fairies in the wood any night.

    ~The Coming of the Fairies by Arthur Conan Doyle

    There are some funny ones. Thanks for the giggles.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Michelle Stockard MillerOctober 25, 2009 at 2:12 AM

    "I would rather read than be randomly dumped in different limbo coops any night!"

    Arch Enemy by Frank Beddor

    sorry for the deleted post...forgot to put book title in first one!

    ReplyDelete
  38. ChrisOctober 25, 2009 at 2:13 AM

    I would rather read than work like a bloomin' slave any night!

    Skellig by David Almond (actually from page 22 because page 23 barely had any text :p)

    What a great and fun challenge :p

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  39. katrinaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    I would rather read than GO TO THE BARRACKS TO FETCH PICO any night.

    cool challenge

    ReplyDelete
  40. LuluetteOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    OOOPS...I'm such a bad typist...

    Let's try this again!!!

    "I would rather read than 'degenerate into hideous puppets' any night!"

    It's PUPPETS, not Pupprts....LOL...

    Oscar Wilde would be scandalized!

    ; )

    ReplyDelete
  41. DanaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    I would rather read than be buying another book to send to daddy in prison any night!

    from Shelf Life edited by Gary Paulson

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  42. KirstenOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    I would rather read than [be] crusted over with some dried-up goopy stuff any night!

    From The Time Travelers, Linda Buckley-Archer.

    Fun challenge, and easy enough to manage at this late hour :)

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  43. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    I would rather read than pretend to faint any night!

    The Funny Thing Is...by Ellen Degeneres

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  44. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    I would rather read than drink a small bottle of sake from the hotel fridge any night!

    from Hardboiled and Hard Luck, Banana Yoshimoto :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oregon KimmOctober 25, 2009 at 2:16 AM

    "I would rather read than be turned by a handsome face or a large fortune or a title, or the prospect of being mistress in a great house any night!"

    --p. 23 of Mr. Darcy's Dream

    Kimm

    oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. katrinaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:16 AM

    sorry, that was from The Farming of Bones - great read so far.

    ReplyDelete
  47. nfmgirlOctober 25, 2009 at 2:17 AM

    I would rather read than steal all the glory any night!

    The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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  48. SaraOctober 25, 2009 at 2:19 AM

    http://scoffeepie.livejournal.com/467921.html

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  49. AllisonOctober 25, 2009 at 2:20 AM

    "I would rather read than be marked as an easy target any night!"

    from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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  50. Ashley AmandaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:23 AM

    Hahaha, this is a fun one!
    Unfortunately my page has only an inch of words!!! Not fair.

    I would rather read than be an old maid.

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  51. RachelOctober 25, 2009 at 2:23 AM

    I would rather read than speculate away half a billion in quick stock turnovers any night.

    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

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  52. AlyceOctober 25, 2009 at 2:24 AM

    I would rather read than "whoop and howl [my] way headlong down 1,500 feet of loose sliding screes" any night."

    (Adapted for person and tense)
    from Touching the void by Joe Simpson

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  53. brizmusOctober 25, 2009 at 2:25 AM

    "I would rather read than successfully struggle to overcome barbarism any night!"

    from the Hunger Games

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  54. MemoryOctober 25, 2009 at 2:25 AM

    I would rather read than becom[e] a grandmother at forty any night!

    -- from THE DAY WATCH by Sergei Lukyanenko

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  55. fionaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:27 AM

    I would rather read than lay some bathroom tile any night!

    from "What we talk about when we talk about love" by Raymond Carver

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  56. IcedreamOctober 25, 2009 at 2:27 AM

    I would rather read than get in touch with your inner fairy any night!

    Bellwether by Connie Willis

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  57. Wall-to-wall booksOctober 25, 2009 at 2:27 AM

    I posted under my daughters name by mistake so I deleted it and will try this again.

    I would rather read than be an old maid any night.

    From "Crossing Over" by Ruth Irene Carrett

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  58. TriciaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:27 AM

    I would rather read than POUR A MUG OF WORMWOOD TEA DOWN HER THROAT any night.

    The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

    ReplyDelete
  59. Shanda McKeehanOctober 25, 2009 at 2:28 AM

    I would rather read than follow a stream upriver, collecting rocks and pinecones any night!

    From The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

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  60. Lenore AppelhansOctober 25, 2009 at 2:39 AM

    I would rather read than become so spoiled and lazy that I no longer worry and be surprised by the spinelessness of stuffed animals any night!

    Amberville by Tim Davys

    What a creative challenge!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:42 AM

    I just finished my last book and can't decide on what to read next. Uhm... *makes a quick decision on her next read* "Wise Child" by Monica Furlong. A reread that one.

    "I would rather read than glow in the dark like rubies any night!"

    *waves pompoms* You can do it!

    ReplyDelete
  62. ErinRaganOctober 25, 2009 at 2:44 AM

    I would rather read than set her keys down on the bar any night!

    Witch Blood by Anya Bast

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  63. JosephOctober 25, 2009 at 2:45 AM

    I would rather read than test [my] new liberties, personal and geographical any night.

    Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

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  64. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 2:45 AM

    I would rather read that pick up a lance, get hold of a horse, and trounce that big cavalry officer Harald any night.

    I just finished reading The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Nicole (Linus's Blanket)October 25, 2009 at 2:46 AM

    "I would rather read than be stroking the horses nose any night!"

    Ash, Malinda Lo

    Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  66. LauraOctober 25, 2009 at 2:46 AM

    I would rather read than have all eyes in the Savoy on me every night!

    A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

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  67. Ashley AmandaOctober 25, 2009 at 2:49 AM

    "I would rather read than reach for the whipped cream any night"

    Big Boned by Meg Cabot

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  68. HeidenkindOctober 25, 2009 at 2:51 AM

    I would rather read than build a mechanical bronze head any night!

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  69. HeidenkindOctober 25, 2009 at 2:52 AM

    Ooops, sorry. That's from Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas

    ReplyDelete
  70. WalkerOctober 25, 2009 at 2:59 AM

    I'd rather read than watch over your exploits any night!

    Beowulf trans. Seamus Heaney

    Only phrase on the whole page that fits grammatically correctly since every other verb was past tense or participle.

    ReplyDelete
  71. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 3:00 AM

    "I would rather read than vie so mightily for the partiality of Lucifer any night!"

    From Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason

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  72. CareOctober 25, 2009 at 3:00 AM

    fun one!

    ReplyDelete
  73. TrishaOctober 25, 2009 at 3:01 AM

    From Neil Gaiman's Dream Country

    "I would rather read than plan to write a play any night!"

    Not too entertaining, but hey I'm reading a graphic novel - not a lot of word choice on one page! :)

    ReplyDelete
  74. Heather (BookobsessedGrl)October 25, 2009 at 3:02 AM

    "I would rather read than be a small lump surrounded by stained concrete any night!"

    "I would rather read than be summoning a demon any night!"

    "I would rather read than reach out with my arcane sense any night!"

    From Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

    ReplyDelete
  75. tanabataOctober 25, 2009 at 3:04 AM

    I'd rather read than remain behind to keep guard by the grave any night!

    The Vampire of Ropraz by Jacques Chessex

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  76. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 3:08 AM

    I would rather read than muss them up, just a little, any night!

    Vision in White by Nora Roberts

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  77. LynnOctober 25, 2009 at 3:08 AM

    Monica, you've won our $15 eBay gift certificate from the "Give me 5" mini challenge. Congrats! Please email me from my profile so I can email you your gift certificate.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Kate at Read This Book!October 25, 2009 at 3:09 AM

    I would rather read than be spun like a limp doll held by a willful child any night!

    Ash by Malinda Lo

    Great challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  79. AmandaOctober 25, 2009 at 3:11 AM

    Hope I'm not too late for this - I took a short nap. Hem. My sentence is:

    I would rather read than watch the movements of treetops and windblown trash any night!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  80. UnknownOctober 25, 2009 at 3:19 AM

    I would rather read than sit in a tiny rocking chair and wear little rat glasses and be voiced by Judi Dench or Hellen Mirren.


    This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

    ReplyDelete
  81. J.T. OldfieldOctober 25, 2009 at 3:25 AM

    I did 4 of them in my latest post.

    http://bibliofreakblog.com/memes/readathon-post-wings/

    to put them all together it would be: than scribbling away a translation of Old Arabic to English with flamboyant ostrich feathers at church and when I look up everyone is crying.

    they come from Turn of the Screw, The Koran, The People of the Book, and Alex & Me.

    ReplyDelete
  82. DaveOctober 25, 2009 at 3:46 AM

    i would rather read than go into the house with the dead kid any night!
    Dave
    mrlatts@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  83. Trish @ Love, Laughter, InsanityOctober 25, 2009 at 3:50 AM

    Ok, I'm back with the challenge piece. :)

    I'd rather read than be marked as an easy target any night!

    Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

    ReplyDelete
  84. Mark BakerOctober 25, 2009 at 3:55 AM

    I would rather read than spill some beans.

    A Date You Can't Refuse by Harley Jane Kozak

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  85. Mark BakerOctober 25, 2009 at 3:56 AM

    I'd rather read than have my peddles curl up a little more.

    Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol

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  86. meeOctober 25, 2009 at 4:05 AM

    I would rather read than threw open a heavy door any night!

    Dracula by Bram Stoker

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  87. EvaOctober 25, 2009 at 4:09 AM

    You're so close now you can taste it! There's only one thing left to do: read! Read! Read! [and maybe dance a bit ;) )]

    ReplyDelete
  88. VioletOctober 25, 2009 at 4:17 AM

    I would rather read than edit a series of books any night!

    It's from 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. Thats all I could find bcoz the rest of the story is in past tense which doesn't quite fit in :)

    ReplyDelete
  89. gautami tripathyOctober 25, 2009 at 4:23 AM

    "I would rather read than watch the boy wollen and bruised from the birth- tongs any night!"

    Page 23, Judah's Lion by Anne Caston (poetry)

    ReplyDelete
  90. AnonymousOctober 25, 2009 at 4:25 AM

    I would rather read than "sitting in the VIP enclosure at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, watching the Second Test match against England..." :)

    ReplyDelete
  91. MilkaOctober 25, 2009 at 4:25 AM

    "I would rather read than drad Guy's mattress into my room any night!"
    (Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty)

    ReplyDelete
  92. MerviOctober 25, 2009 at 4:40 AM

    "I would rather read than plow that good stuff under and put it in soy any night!"

    Kage Baker's Empress of Mars

    ReplyDelete
  93. LouiseOctober 25, 2009 at 5:17 AM

    You've done great so far. Ready for the last stretch?! Come on. GO GO GO. Cheering for you from Copenhagen, Denmark.

    ReplyDelete