Dewey's Wrap-Up

Wow, that was a great nap! And don't think I'm not heading back to bed today, I need to get a little more sleep to start feeling normal. 

End of Event Meme

1. Which hour was the most daunting for you?

I think it was just after 2 in the morning, and I caved to get some sleep. I've learned the hard way that while forcing myself to stay awake may result in a few more pages read and some unintentionally hilarious posting, it's better if I just sleep and wake up in a couple of hours.

2. Could you list a few high interest books to keep a Reader engaged for next time?

Of the books I read from this time, I'd recommend "The Bone Season" if they want to focus on reading gone big book, and "Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants" for something fun and funny to get you through the early mornings hours or a rougher patch that you're finding difficult to keep your brain on reading.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the readathon?

Not now. The only thing I thought of from last time was to post the introductory meme earlier than the official start time, but you guys did that this time around! That was very helpful, thank you.

4. What do you think worked really well this year?

I liked the variety in the mini-challenges, posting the first meme early, and it seemed to be a little smoother running ship than before. 

5 & 6. How many and what books did you read?

I finished 5

   "The Journey" by Sarah Stewart

   "Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants" by The Oatmeal

   "The Exile" by Diana Gabaldon and Hoang Nguyen

   "Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey" by Nick Bertozzi

   "Jane Goes Batty" by Michael Thomas Ford

And I read from 2 more that I didn't finish

   "The Bone Season" by Samantha Shannon (on audio, but I also own the print version)

   "Ghost Hunting" by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

I think it has to be Jane Goes Batty, but The Bone Season had me really captivated. Sometimes it was hard to listen that closely all the time, though, so Jane wins by ease if nothing else.

8. Least?

The Exile. It's a graphic novel retelling of "Outlander" from Jaime's POV (well, the first third, anyway) and while it really does condense the storyline nicely, and the artwork was very well done, it somehow just didn't seem to fit in, or grab me, or something. I'd still recommend it, but not heartily.

9. If you were a Cheerleader...

N/A

10. How likely are you to participate next time? In what role?

I'll be back again as a reader, for sure. Maybe next time I'll try some freelance cheering (thanks for the term, Sherry Ann!) and see how that goes. As it is, I feel like the internet distracts me enough, so we'll see. 

A big thanks to my faithful RAT Buddy, Sherry Ann, for sticking with me once again. I don't know how I'd do this without you! And thanks to the cheerleaders (Yay Deb Nance!), participants, and our overworked and fantastic organizers who do such a bang-up job just for the fun and love of reading. You're all the best!

And now, time for me to do this...

Hours 18 - 24

Man, Kelly Kapowski and I are pooped!

Hour 18

Still awake, and I've started reading "Ghost Hunting" by the guys from the show Ghost Hunters. Since they're fairly short chapters, I'm hoping that whenever I fall asleep I won't have much to catch up on after the book falls out of my hands. It's just after midnight here, and I'm usually asleep on the couch by now, or I'm in bed with my Kindle, so who knows what will happen? Hint: it won't be a dance party.

Hour 19:30 - 23:30

I slept. It was lovely, and I want to do more of it!

But before I fell asleep, I did read, and I somehow managed to write it all down before slipping into oblivion.

Pages read 125
Time reading 1 hr 8 min

Totals
Pages read - 774
Books finished - 4
Time reading - 10 hrs 49 min (audiobook- 5 hrs 21 min)
Challenges completed - 7 (Hours 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 15, and 16)

Thoughts: That was a wonderful nap, if longer than I expected. But that's okay! I'm going to try and read a graphic novel and then get back to the book I was reading before I fell asleep. Is anyone else awake? 

Hour 22 Challenge is the Best Of challenge, hosted by Lisa's World of Books.

Best Author of your reading year: Louise Penny. She's so good!
Best Book of your reading year: This was incredibly difficult, but I'm going with "Just One Damned Thing After Another" by Jodi Taylor. This start to a series has it all, and it's essentially story crack. 
Best Series of your reading year: I'm going to have to go with the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I'll have read the whole thing in a few months once I wrap up the last book, and it was such a wonderful trip. 

That's all, folks!

Pages read in the last hour: 193
Time reading: 50 min

Final totals
Pages read - 967
Books finished - 5
Time reading - 11 hrs 39 min (audiobook - 5 hrs 21 min)
Challenges completed - 9 (Hours 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 15, 16, 22, and 24)

Thoughts: Well, I made myself a cup of decaf coffee to help perk me up a bit to get through the last hour, and it really helped!  And now, I'm off to sleep for a few more hours. I'll be back later to do my wrap-up post. *yawn* 

Hours 13 - 17

These next couple of posts may be a little light on info, methinks. Starting to get sleeeeeepy. 

Hour 13 and the start of 14

Pages read: 352
Time reading: 1 hr 5 min

Totals
Pages 649
Books Finished 3
Time Reading 7 hrs 30 min (audiobook - 3 hrs 10 min)
Challenges 5 (Hours 1, 3, 5, 11, and 12)

Thoughts:
Well, that was a productive hour spent reading two graphic novels. I'm starting to feel better about having gotten more than one title finished, though. Trying to decide whether to push myself to read a book that I've already started and isn't grabbing me, or to start a new one that I saved for this readathon? Hmmm. Maybe if I find something to snack on, I'll be able to pick something. 


Hour 15

Listening to more of "The Bone Season" while I'm online. Also, I did this hours' mini-challenge, Book Spine Poetry, hosted by Ticket to Anywhere.

The Lost Faces of the Living Dead,

Riders Through the Woods;

The Abomination, An Area of Darkness

Hour 16

Still more "Bone Season", and the challenge of the hour. It's Pet Parade, hosted by Estella's Revenge. You're supposed to take a picture of your pets as they are right now. Since my cats are currently chasing each other around the house, I'll post two pictures from earlier in the day. The first is the two of them sleeping together, Sweetpea (sister) is on the top, and Chico (brother) is on the bottom. The second one is of Chico sleeping on me while I was reading my graphic novels earlier. 

Too bad they have such a rough life, hey?!?

Thoughts: Once again, I'm so glad that I've got an audiobook to get me through this thon. I can wash my face, put things away, check email, all while still reading. I went to check on my neighbor's cat for about 15 minutes, and now I'm making a pizza for "dinner" even though it's nearly 11 PM my time. I've woken up a bit for now, but all bets are off once dinner starts to hit my stomach. 

Hour 17

Some more audiobook time, and I finally turned my TV on to watch an episode of "Modern Family" while I had some pizza. Just put on my pajamas and am going to curl up on the couch with a book for awhile. I expect to fall asleep at some point, and that's okay. I just hope I wake up in time to finish this thing, and not an hour or two afterwards, which is my usual. 

Totals

Pages 649

Books finished 3

Time reading 9 hrs 41 min (audiobook - 5 hrs 21 min)

Challenges completed 7 (Hours 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 15, and 16)

Hours 9 - 12

How's everyone doing so far? Still up and at 'em? So far it's been pretty good for me, but it's just 3:00 in the afternoon, prime nap time, so I'm not sure how much longer my alertness will hang in there. 

Hour 9

Just starting the hour, it's all good!  Right now I'm about a third of the way into "Jane Goes Batty" by Michael Thomas Ford. It's the second in a series (or maybe it's just a trilogy?), and it's a light and fun read.

Hours 10 and 11
Wahoo, my first book is finally finished!

Pages read: 201
Time reading: 2 hrs 15 min

Totals
Pages read: 297
Time reading: 6 hrs 25 min (audiobook - 3 hrs 10 min)
Challenges: 4 (Hours 1, 3, 5, and 11)

Thoughts: Well, that was an epic sit-a-thon. My butt is numb! All I did was pet a cat on my lap, take a sip or two of water, and read read read! I think it's time for a little graphic novel or two before the next mini challenge comes along. Speaking of, I should go and check out what's popped up in my absence. 

eta: I just participated in the Hour 11 mini-challenge, hosted by Stacy's Books, called Book Covers and Leaves. You had to list all the titles (covered up with fall leaves) of the children's books in her picture. I think I got them all right! Sometimes, working at a library is a good thing. ;)


Hour 12
It's the halfway point - that means it's time for the mid-event meme!

1. What are you reading right now?
I'm between books, but am just about to pick up "Shackleton" by Nick Bertozzi.

2. How many books have you read so far?
I've finished one and gotten part way through another.

3. What book are you most looking forward to in the second half of the Read-a-Thon?
I think right now it's "Ghost Hunting" by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Either that, or "The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with them?
I just rolled with it and got back to reading as soon as I could. No biggie.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-Thon so far?
As usual, it's how little I'm actually reading. It's crazy. I mean, I'm just starting hour 12 and I've only got 1 book finished. One!  

I know! While yes, that's more than I'd have started and finished in a normal day, by this time I'm usually down at least 3 books. Time to pick up the pace!

Hours 5 - 8

Hours 5 and 6

Pages read: 0

Time reading: 0

Totals

Pages read: 0

Time reading: 3 hrs 10 minutes

Hour 5 Mini-Challenge: Book Staging by On the Wings of Books

Thoughts: Well, I've gotten zero reading done in the last couple of hours. I spent about a half an hour on a break, putting on sweats, having breakfast (veggie omelet and a bagel), puttering around the house. My Mom came over and we chatted for an hour and a half or so. She's just left, so I'm getting ready to get tucked into a book for awhile.

Hours 7 and 8

Finally - some book time! After reading for an hour I took a break for lunch (ham and cheese sandwich, chips, and a lemon lime fizzy water) and to catch up on the internets. So far, I'm not tired at all, but I know that will be short-lived. 

Totals

Pages read: 96

Time reading: 4 hrs 10 min ( audiobook - 3 hrs 10 min)

Hour 4

The time seems to go so quickly at the beginning, and at the end.... slow as molasses. 

Hour 3 Challenge - Shelfie

This is what I spend most of my time looking at, as it's the wall with the TV in my living room. The small shelf on the left is poetry, and the rest of the shelves starting at the upper left and wrapping down towards my DVD/CD shelves are some of my TBRs in reverse alpha order. Stacked on top of the DVD shelves are my RAT books, and you can just see the corner of my fireplace mantel (with my essential oil diffuser) and the top part of my red chofa (chair/sofa) with a very unattractive 80's pillowcase on top to help keep some cat hair off. It's a losing battle, as that's one of their favorite places to lay, but it does help a little. Believe me, there are PLENTY more shelves I could've chosen, but this is the one I see all the time, so I figured it was the best choice. 

Hour 4 Challenge - Quotable Quotes

This is right from the beginning of "The Bone Season".

I like to imagine there were more of us in the beginning. Not many, I supposed. But more than there are now.

We are the minority the world does not accept. Not outside of fantasy, and even that's blacklisted. We look like everyone else. Sometimes we act like everyone else. In many ways, we are like everyone else. We are everywhere, on every street. We live in a way you might consider normal, provided you don't look too hard.

Not all of us know what we are. Some of us die without ever knowing. Some of us know, and we never get caught. But we're out there. 

Trust me. 

 

What I'm reading: "The Bone Season" by Samantha Shannon

Time reading/listening: 3 hours

Here's hoping I can get a little actual book time soon!

Hour 1

Good morning, everyone! I don't know about you, but I slept through my alarm and am getting up exactly when this starts. Oh well! Plans for this hour are to make a cup of coffee and start reading something easy while my brain wakes up.

image from risingabovereallife.com

Opening Meme
1. What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
My house just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2. Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
I really don't know this time! Maybe the next one in the Jane Austen Vampire series by Michael Thomas Ford, "Jane Goes Batty", or the "Shackleton" graphic novel I won the last RAT.

3. Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Honestly? I'm planning on roasting a giant pile of veggies later, and that will be soooo good!

4. Tell us a little something about yourself!
Mid-30's rumored crazy cat lady, overworked, underpaid, and most of my free time is spent reading books. Also, I'm considering going to get my MLIS degree, and pro/con list is about even, so I'm not sure what will tip it either way. 

5. If you participated in the last RAT, what's one thing you'll do differently today?
I did, and I think I'm going to be a little kinder to myself today and not be such a reading Nazi. I haven't gone obsessively mental about what books to read, snacks to eat, etc. I've had my book stacks for about a week and haven't touched them, and I didn't do a separate  shopping list for food, so I'm just going to try to relax and enjoy myself this time around. I'm planning on doing a little yard work, and I have to take care of my neighbors' cat for awhile, but other than that I should be here. One thing that is different though, is that I'm taking a CPR renewal class tomorrow afternoon, so I am going to have to get some sleep today/tonight at some point so I don't look like I'm hungover in class tomorrow.


Okay, off to start this Thon off right!  

R.A.T. TBR pile

I'm really trying not to be an over-planning, over-library-checker-outer of books this time around, despite the fact that 9 graphic novels came home with me on Friday, and I have another 7 regular books sitting here. Just ignore those piles, and check out what I pulled off of my shelves for Dewey's this time!

These three are oversized/easy/quick reads that I can use to either boost numbers or keep me going when my brain is tired.

This stack is full of scary, creepy, Halloween-y things like ghosts, vampires, and aliens. A couple of them I've been saving for the October Dewey's, and they've been sitting on my shelves, unread, for years. I'm hoping to get at least a couple of these bad boys finished.

This last one has short, picture-filled, or comfort reading. I'm currently reading all of the Poirot books in order, so #4, "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", will be next for me. And most of the others in the stack I've wanted to read earlier, and put them back in anticipation for the RAT. "Shackleton" was a win from the last RAT (and my first RAT win ever!!!), so I figured it'd be appropriate to save it for this next one. And I'd read bits and pieces out of the "Twitterature" book, but now I'll actually go and read it straight through. 

I'm not going to picture my library book stacks now, since I'll either read them before Saturday, or I'll save them to read on Saturday and would like a spur of the moment thing to happen. Plus, you guys don't want to see and hear about the same books all the time, do you? Didn't think so. 

Normally, I like to save the night before the 'thon to grocery shop, prep food, clean up the house, start my meme's, etc. This time around, I work until 3, have a 5:00 massage client, and have a writing group meeting after that, so I'll have to plan everything out this Thursday instead. Here's hoping I don't forget anything or think that I'll have time the next night, when actually, I'm just hoping to be in bed and sleeping by 11!  

See you all at 7 AM on Saturday, if not before!