Happy #Readathon! Updates One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven

Let the fun begin!


I'll admit, I've gotten a bit of a late start to the morning.  But in my defense, I'll be hosting a mini-challenge for hour 23...AKA 5 AM tomorrow.  (So, stop by then...or around then.)

I'm excited for a day of reading.  I could use the fun!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Southeastern Louisiana

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
 I'm hoping to start Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler.  It's been on the top of my To Be Read Mountain for weeks.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
 COFFEE!!!!!!!

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I'm an uber-nerd who teaches literature and writing courses.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I think this is my fourth...or fifth-ish? readathon.  This isn't something I'll do differently, necessarily.  This is something I learned from other participants that really helps:  Break-up your reading and read some quick reads (like picturebooks or graphic novels) early on to help you feel a sense of accomplishment and encouragement.


Cups of coffee:  0  :(
Pages read:  0  


Time for caffeine and reading!!!!!!  :)

UPDATE TWO!

Okay, so, it's still been a bit of a slow start to the readathon.  I had to do pesky things that get in the way of reading, like eating and washing my face.

But, I'm not track now.  I finished re-reading Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate, a novel in verse that I assigned to my literature class.

Next, I'll work on tackling Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves and The Cupid War by Timothy Carter.  Both are books I started reading last week while in Boston for the Popular Culture Conference.

Plus, I'll also be hosting a mini-challenge during hour eight and nine.  Be sure to stop by for that!



Cups of coffee: 1
Pages read:  75

UPDATE THREE!

Turns out, running a mini-challenge is a little distracting when it comes to reading.  But in a very good way.  I'm enjoying reading through the participants' found poems.  It'll be *very* difficult to choose just one winner.

I'm also started to hunger for food as well as my books.  I'm currently preparing a pasta for lunch.  I'm listening to the audio book of Cassandra Clare's City of Glass as I do.  Very enjoyable.



Cups of coffee: 1  (still nursing that first cup and regularly reheating it)
Pages read:  120  (still not as many as I would like that this hour) and a lot of wonderful found poems!

UPDATE FOUR!

Well, I've been fed, enjoyed a kitty resting upon my arms while I struggled to type some reviews of the books I've been reading and I have *finally* done a bit more reading.

I went through a graphic novel called Hybrid Bastards.  I'd loved the comic series when it came out five or six years ago (but I couldn't get ahold of all of them).  So, I was super excited when a graphic novel collection of the series came out.  Hybrid Bastards imagines that the goddess Hera and the god Hypnos put a spell on Zeus so that for one night, he fell in love with inanimate objects, birthing the hybrid bastards whose mothers were things like a car, apple tree, homeless man, etc.

Eighteen years later, the bastards start to assemble and form a plan to take revenge upon their absent father.

I love the concept and story...but I found the art to be difficult to follow.

I'm currently thinking of ways that it could be included in a revision of my dissertation.

Back to the reading!  (Although, I have to admit, I predict a nap may be in my future.)

Cups of coffee: 2 
Pages read:  252

UPDATE FIVE!

Mid-event survey:

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
I've been a little sleepy, but the coffee is kicking-in.  Mostly, I've started to feel the need to move and have missed the sounds that human make.  What's the word?  Oh, yeah, talking.

2) What have you finished reading?
I finished Home of the Brave, The Cupid War and Hybrid Bastards.

3) What is your favorite read so far?
Well, I've read Home of the Brave before and have enjoyed it each time.  Hybrid Bastards was fun.  And it was exciting to finally know how the story ended.

4) What about your favorite snacks?
Same as at the start:  Coffee.  Though, I may have to break out some ice cream pretty soon.

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
Each blog I've visited has been great!  It's been nice to see an international showing as well as a lot of people who read young adult and children's books.


Cups of coffee: 2 
Pages read:  335

UPDATE SIX

During the last few hours, I got distracted and did some work on some reviews for the blog.  Then I got even more distracted and starting moving some books around.  I think I needed the physical activity.  But, I was still listening to the audiobook of City of Glass.  Reading was done!  Although, I have no idea how to add that to my page count.

Now, I'm going to transition and read in bed with the hope of falling asleep.

Don't worry though, this isn't the last you'll be seeing of me.  I'll be back to host another mini-challenge for hours 23 and 24.

See you then!

Happy reading to all 

and to all a good night!

Cups of coffee: 2.5 
Pages read:  368

UPDATE SEVEN

Aaaaaand, I'm back.

Last hour!  Yay!

As I was waiting for the responses to the mad lib challenge to come in, I filled-out the end of the Readathon meme:

• Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hours 22-23...when I woke up and just wanted to go back to sleep.

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

I'm on team graphic novel for keeping readers awake and motivated.  I read Hybrid Bastards for this readathon, but it might not appeal to everyone.

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

More cheerleaders!

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

I liked being able to record which books I had finished on the Dewey website.

• How many books did you read?

I finished three books that I had been reading, but I made progress in five or six.

• What were the names of the books you read?

Home of the Brave, Hybrid Bastards, The Cupid War, Writing the Life Poetic, Chopsticks and Slice of Cherry.

• Which book did you enjoy most?

Hope of the Brave by Katherine Applegate.

• Which did you enjoy least?

The Cupid War.  Ugh.

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

Make more comments.  During the last couple of readathons I've felt neglected.

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

100%.  I love hosting mini-challenges!



Cups of coffee: 2.5 
Pages read:  472