Dewey's Read-a-thon -- End of Event Meme

Which hour was most daunting for you?
Well, this was such a different read-a-thon for me -- Since I didn't have any pledges based on quantity, and since I was needed at work, and since my boss is sick and I didn't also want to get sick, I hardly pushed myself, only reading for five hours, 45 minutes, and 42 seconds.  So there wasn't really a daunting hour for me...

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
 Hmmm..  Let's see . . . How about Blackout by Connie Willis, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown.

How many books did you read?

I only finished one this year!

What were the names of the books you read?
I read The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle and I am on page 190 of Liesl and Poby Lauren Oliver -- so a total of 615 pages read.

Which book did you enjoy most?

They were both good reads.  Usually, I try to read a mix of fiction, non-fiction, children's lit, YA, etc.  This year I only got to YA and children's lit -- a non-fiction, What It Is Like to Go to War,  was next on the pile. 

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again?
Extremely -- I can only hope my schedule cooperates.

Hour 18

I'm having a lovely evening here, enjoying my books and my solitude and my music and my comfy clothes. 

I finished The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle.  There was a pit in my stomach by the end, aching for the main character's loss & pain, and appreciating her braveness, and wanting to hug and spend time with everyone I love. 

Now I'm 135 pages into Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver.   The illustrations are gorgeous.

My body is sore and I think I need to either get back under the covers or put on a sweatshirt. 

Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
I'm reading The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle.

2. How many books have you read so far?
Haven't finished any books, on page 365 of TBOA
 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Just settling in to reading after needing to miss the bulk of the day so far.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
I was really needed at work (and I love my job) so I allowed myself (for first time) to not do so.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
See above.  :)  I have no regrets.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
That I have no regrets about the above.  :)

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope.  I love it and I love the variety of people who participate.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
I'd like to collect more pledges next year!

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Nope!  But I know I'll get there.  Well, maybe I'm a tiny bit tired, actually.....

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?
Just taking breaks to stretch & put on chapstick/lotion.

Theme Thursday -- Beauty -- Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer

Hosted by Reading Between the Pages

Rules:

*A theme will be posted each week on Thursday.

*Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you're reading that features the theme

*Post it and don't forget to mention the author and title of the book

*Event is open for the whole week

*Link back to Reading Between the Pages

 

 "The ball," she announced, "is on Wednesday."  Frank groaned. "Did you bring a fancy dress?" Felicity said anxiously.

"I did."

"What is it?" demanded Felicity, agog with female interest.

"Mephistopheles.  Suits my style of beauty."

She was doubtful.  "I don't really mind about that," she informed him.  "You see, I'm going as a Powder Puff, and you won't suit my style at all.."

"God forbid.  A Powder Puff!  Look here, what is this ball about, and why, and where?" (page 20)


This was the first time I'd read anything by Georgette Heyer and I really enjoyed it.  I'm pretty sure I'll be picking her books up again.    From the back cover:
On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel.  The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her -- at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up . . . 

In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled.  Fortunately, in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth . . .   

I really appreciate Heyer's style and humor and liked the way she creates her characters.
 

Dewey's Read-a-Thon 2011 -- Wrap-up post and end of event survey

I read for a grand total of 15h 58m s.

I read three books:   Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer,  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch, & Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis, for a grand total of 757 pages.

My friend Amber pledged $10/book to go to my daughter's school = $30 to AVS.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
Definitely Hour 24, no contest.  Of course, it didn't help that I came to bed and read there and that my computer overheated and shut down!  I was so sleepy by that point.


2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Nothing leapt to mind immediately, but ...  Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and . . . for non-fiction, Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope -- it just gets better all the time.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I'm glad we start talking about it in advance, so we can get psyched up.  :)

5. How many books did you read?
three


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

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Tie between Why Shoot a Butler? and Promised Valley Rebellion.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
Out of the Silent Planet -- but not cause it was terrible, it's just the only other option!

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?
The only reason I wouldn't participate in October would be if I absolutely couldn't get out of work or some other unforeseen event.  If I am able to get sponsors, I will probably focus on reading again.

Hour 22 -- fading fast.

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 22 (3:43 a.m.)  have read 14h  12m 27s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages,  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch -- 270 pages, 112 pages of Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Up Next: continuing with Out of the Silent Planet (if anyone can tell me off the top of their head what the other two of the trilogy are, I'm much obliged, I'm sure.)Starting to think I might try finishing it and then throw in the towel...  We'll see.

Feeling:Sleepy sleepy sleepy!

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Just water - no more food for me til I wake up. Down in the basement on my bed.

Hour 21 -- time for nachos.

Cover via Amazon

Hour # (actual time): 21 (2:43 a.m.)  have read 13h  35m 24s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages,  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch -- 270 pages, 99 pages of Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Up Next: continuing with Out of the Silent Planet (if anyone can tell me off the top of their head what the other two of the trilogy are, I'm much obliged, I'm sure.)  Hoping to at least start a fourth book.

Feeling: Cold!  Warm shower sounds better all the time. 

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Lots of water.  I think I might have some nachos before the shower. Heading to the kitchen.  :)

Hour 19 -- Liking the Lewis

Cover of C.S. Lewis

Hour # (actual time): 19 (12:43 a.m.)  have read 12h  0m 20s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages,  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch -- 270 pages, 46 pages of Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Up Next: continuing with Out of the Silent Planet (if anyone can tell me off the top of their head what the other two of the trilogy are, I'm much obliged, I'm sure.)

Feeling: Definitely aware it's past my bedtime.  :)  I brushed my teeth, which woke me up for a bit, but may need to resort to a shower a little later.  Would probably help my muscles, too.   

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Lots of water & I thinking about buttered toast and jam....  Still in the green recliner in the living room and wanting to read more before the potential shower....

Hour 18 -- I'm the only one awake.

Cover via Amazon

Hour # (actual time): 18 (11:05 p.m.)  have read 10h  49m 30s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages,  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch -- 270 pages

Up Next: begin Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis  -- really hoping to get to a 4th book before it's all said and done.

Feeling: super sore (silly getting hit by a car) but still pretty good.  I have teeth-brushing and/or showering and/or changing clothes in reserve if I need a wake-up. 

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Lots of water & I have some almonds, pecans, & raisins if I get hungry for the rest of the time.  Everyone is asleep now, so I'm ensconced in the green recliner in the living room again.  I may head back to the basement at some point, but don't want to get too comfortable in bed!

Hour 15 -- finishing up book #2

Hour # (actual time): 15 (8:41 p.m.)  have read 9h  26m 54s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages, 196 pages of  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Up Next: finish up  Promised Valley Rebellion, begin Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Feeling:  Like I could use a massage -- volunteers?  :)  All my housemates are home and being industrious in a very different manner than I.  Glad to be finishing my second book.

 

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Tim made me another mug of tea that I just finished up.  Should eat some more before too long, probably when I finish Promised Valley Rebellion.  Sitting in the recliner in the living room.

Hour 14 -- fun!

Cover via Amazon

Starting soon!  :)

Hour # (actual time): 14 (6:41 p.m.)  have read 8h  45m 18s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages, 164 pages of  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Up Next: keep going on  Promised Valley Rebellion, eventually get to Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Feeling:  Good -- still have the house to myself and definitely enjoying Promised Valley Rebellion

Eating/Drinking/Where: Just finish another glass of water.  Sitting in the recliner in the living room.

Hour 13 -- Mid-Event Survey

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 13 (6:41 p.m.)  have read 8h  6m 46s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages, 124 pages of  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Up Next: keep going on  Promised Valley Rebellion, eventually get to Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Feeling: Great! Trying to keep going steadily while I have a quiet house -- it'd be cool if I could finish book two while everyone is gone.

Eating/Drinking/Where: Steeping another mug of English Breakfast tea and pondering what I want to eat next. :)  I sat in the living room with the cat for a while, but am back at the dining room table now.



Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

2. How many books have you read so far?
 1 book and 124/270 pages of another

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Well, I'm really enjoying my current read, and I don't think I've ever read any of Lewis' fiction for adults, so I'm looking forward to Out of the Silent Planet as well.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Not really.  My daughter is with her dad this weekend and I'm using the read-a-thon as a brief escape from job-hunting, apartment-searching, and general life-figuring out.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
My young housemates have come and sat with me occasionally and I've simply used that time as a break, talked with them a bit, did some updating, etc.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
Not sure I have any surprises this time, just enjoying participating.

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

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
I want to remember to warn my readers that I'll be posting a ridiculous amount and if they don't care about the read-a-thon, to simply check back in on Monday.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Not really.  I've been drinking tea and trying to get at least a little bit of movement in and my books have been engrossing.

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 continue to like using a little template, just those few lines at the beginning -- gives me a bit of structure to start my posts with.

Hour 11 -- a quiet house again

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 11 (4:41 p.m.)  have read 6h  32m 38s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages, 42 pages of  Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Up Next: keep going on  Promised Valley Rebellion, eventually get to Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

Feeling:  I'm excited as I just got my first sponsor -- my friend Amber has pledged $10/book -- So I need to keep reading!  That's a good motivator.  :)  I think I can finish at least three!  Hooray!

Eating/Drinking/Where: Just water right now, finished my English Breakfast tea.  Still in the dining room, when my computer is fully charged, will move to the living room if my housemates are all still at the gym!

Hour 9 -- New book going well.

Image via Wikipedia

Exactly what my dining room looks like.  :)

Hour # (actual time): 9 (2:43 p.m.)  have read 5h  43m 48s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages, 10 pages of Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Up Next: Keep going strong on Promised Valley Rebellion

Feeling:  Good! Enjoying Promised Valley Rebellion so far, which is nice, since I wasn't sure what I'd think.  Struggling with one of Brown Girl Book Speak's clues for the mini-challenge.  We'll see if I can figure it out -- I've got the rest, though one is sort of a guess.   

 

Eating/Drinking/Where:  More English Breakfast tea.  Still at the dining room table -- My housemate is in the other room watching TV, the 3 1/2 yo and his dad went for a bike ride, and the 1 1/2 yo is napping, so I've got a bit more quiet time on this floor of the house.  :)

Hour 8 -- finished my first book!

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 8(1:36 p.m.)  have read 5 h  20 m 32 s

Finished Reading:  Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer --329 pages

Up Next: start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling:  Not bad.  Curious to see what Promised Valley Rebellion will be like.  It's one I was sent for review.  The back cover compares it to Jean Auel, which makes me a little leery.  

Eating/Drinking/Where:  vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, English Breakfast tea, water, and cashews & raisins.  I'm up at the dining room table now and the change of scenery feels good.  We'll see if I can concentrate to read here after lunch.

Hour 7 -- Almost finished with my first book!

Cover of Trisha Yearwood

Hour # (actual time): 7(12:36 a.m.)  have read 4 h  50 m 15 s

Finished Reading:  307 pages of Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer

Up Next: finish Why Shoot a Butler? and start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling:  Not bad.  Looking forward to eating something when I finish the Heyer.  Curious to see what Promised Valley Rebellion will be like.  It's one I was sent for review. Listening to Trisha Yearwood (Let the Wind Chase You) on Pandora.

Eating/Drinking/Where:  still just water -- so peeing a lot :D.  Still in the basement on my bed.  Will change location eventually, probably between books, may eat at that point as well

Hour 6 -- 1/4 over!

Cover of Why Shoot a Butler?

Hour # (actual time): 6(11:36 a.m.)  have read 4 h 9 m 26 s

Finished Reading: 264 pages of Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer

Up Next: finish Why Shoot a Butler?, start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling:  Awesome.  Getting close to finishing my first book. Curious to see what Promised Valley Rebellion will be like.  It's one I was sent for review.

Eating/Drinking/Where:  still just water -- so peeing a lot :D.  Still in the basement on my bed.  Will change location eventually, probably between books, may eat at that point as well.

Hour 5

Cover of Johann Sebastian Bach

Hour # (actual time): 5(10:36 a.m.)  have read 3 h 16 m 17s

Finished Reading: 216 pages of Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer

Up Next: finish Why Shoot a Butler?, start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling: Good.  Getting close to finishing my first book.  Will need to eat at some point.  Listening to Bach on Pandora.

Eating/Drinking/Where:  still just water, but will hunt for food soon.  Still in the basement on my bed.  Will change location eventually. 

Hour 4 -- Going strong on the read-a-thon

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 4(9:06 a.m.)  have read 2 h 9 m 48s

Finished Reading: 139 pages of Why Shoot a Butler?  by Georgette Heyer

Up Next: finish Why Shoot a Butler?, start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling: Good!  This was a great book to start with and I'm enjoying the mystery as well as the humor.

Eating/Drinking/Where:  just water right now, still in the basement on my bed.

Hour 2

Image via Wikipedia

Hour # (actual time): 2 (7:34 a.m.) Have read one hour, twenty minutes, 19 seconds

Finished Reading:  85 pages of Why Shoot a Butler?

Up Next:  finish Why Shoot a Butler?, start Promised Valley Rebellion by Ron Fritsch

Feeling: Pretty good.  Enjoying my comfy all black outfit.  Wishing I had a masseuse to work on my poor shoulder.

Eating/Drinking/Where:  Just have water at this instant, back down in the basement on my bed.