Hello again, people

Well, I've slept for a whopping 4 hours, I'm still deeply tired and feel some residual "crazy" lurking around here, but hey - I'm awake and it's extremely sunshine-y outside. Ignoring my vampiric tendencies today, I'm going to try and stay up for at least a couple of hours before crashing again. Yeah, that may not happen.

Final numbers

Pages read: 432 (yay for pictures!)

Total: 1,664

Time reading: 1 hr 38 min

Total: 14 hrs 8 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 7

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 4

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

Final Meme

1) Which hour was most daunting for you?

They were both near the end, but between 3 and 4 am was pretty bad (and unintentionally funny), and the last hour between 6 and 7 am. Focusing was something I had to really concentrate one.

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

The Hex Hall series by Rachel Dawkins really worked for me this time around. Previously though, I've had a lot of luck with books by Rhys Bowen, Shirley Jackson, and the Womens Murder Club series by James Patterson.

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

The only thing that I enjoyed the previous time was having a list of all of the mini-challenges posted at the beginning. That way I could plan on having some breaks ahead of time.

4) What do you think worked really well in this year's Read-a-thon?

Everything else! I eagerly wait for this event every 6 months - any way to make October happen any sooner?

5) How many books did you read?

I finished 7 and read from 3 more.

6) What were the names of the books you read?

I read from and didn't finish "Eat, Pray, Love", "Matched" by Ally Condie, and "The Royals" by Kitty Kelley.

I finished "The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries" by Emily Brightwell

"Feng Sh*t" by Anna Crosbie

"Henrietta Sees It Through" by Joyce Dennys

"Daddy Long-Legs" by Jean Webster

"Demonglass" by Rachel Hawkins

"Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights" by Sophie Dahl

"Amphigorey Also" by Edward Gorey

7) Which book did you enjoy most?

Demonglass, for sure. The wait for book number 3 is already driving me crazy, and this one was just published!

8) Which did you enjoy least?

Of the ones I finished, "Feng Sh*t". The ones I didn't finish, "The Royals". It was just too much of the same thing after 2 hours to keep hacking away at.

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?

A Reader, for sure. I'd think about being a Cheerleader, but I so enjoy that long (usually) uninterrupted stretch of reading time that right now it's hard to think about breaking it up at all.

Alright, I think it's time to make some breakfast (at 12:30 in the afternoon), watch some mindless TV and take another nap or two. See you all later!

Ugh

Well, I made it 'til the end, but I'm so exhausted that I'm heading straight to bed. I'll be back here later on for a final update and things.

Thanks to everyone for hanging in there with me!

Hour 22

Pages read: 329

Total: 1,232

Time reading: 2 hrs 9 min

Total: 12 hrs 30 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 5

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 4

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

Holy crap, I am sooo tired. It's 4:30 in the morning, and I think it's officially time to switch to Books With Pictures. I was getting hungry earlier so I made a snack of some leftover chicken and coleslaw. While reading, I was rocking myself, eating coleslaw, and singing "Soft Kitty" out loud. Yeah. I think I lost it there for a little bit.

Not a high point in my life, to be sure, but I'm going to keep at it. If only I wasn't getting so comfortable with these snuggly warm cats, it's getting hard to keep my head upright!

Hour 20

At least, I think it's hour 20...

Pages read: 234

Total: 903

Time reading: 1 hr 9 min

Total: 10 hrs 21 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 4

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 4

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

Notes: You know when you start to get really tired and you get cold and tingley and achey all at the same time. That's exactly where I am. No upright position feels comfortable, and I know if I lay down I will be asleep within 10 minutes, so I have to sit up somehow. I'm halfway through yet another book and it's good, but it's not really doing it for me totally. Oh well. Maybe if I try sitting in the recliner I'd be comfortable but won't fall asleep. Only one way to find out...

start of Hour 19

Pages read: 103

Total: 669

Time reading: 1 hr 3 min

Total: 9 hrs 12 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 3

Blogs visited: 1

Total: 4

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

I've finished book #3, so I've hit my goal! And it's a good thing too, because I am getting quite sleepy, and there are 6 full hours ahead of me. Now I'm wondering about what to read next. Do I start on something with pictures? Try and make a little progress in The Royals? Pick a new book entirely? Try and finish something else I'm currently reading? Maybe I should just shut my eyes, grab a book and take it from there. I ate a greek yogurt with blueberries thinking it would help me stay awake, but it hasn't been so helpful. Maybe something resembling more of a meal would do it.

Hour 16

Pages read: 292

Total: 566

Time reading: 3 hr 36 min (1 hr 20 min audio)

Total: 8 hrs 9 min (3 hr 40 min audiobooks)

Books completed: 2

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 2 (“Collaborative Fiction” and “In Other Words”)

Notes: Wahoo, I finished another book! This time it was the excellent "Demonglass" - I was reading so fast to find out what happens, and now it's all over and I have to wait FOR MONTHS before the next book is published! I hate that and I love it a little at the same time. It's been awhile since I've been so enthralled with a series. Hm, now that that's over with I'm not sure what to read. There are still 8ish hours left in this thing, so I don't want to break out my "books with pictures" just yet, I only have so many of those on hand. Maybe I'll try to slog through another 80 or so pages of "The Royals". Originally I was hoping to finish it this time around, but it gets a little same-y the more I read it so I think I'm dropping that hope. Unfortunately, my eyes are starting to hurt a little, so I'm going to start on the eye drops and hope that helps. See you all again soon!

Hour 12

Mid-event Meme

1. What are you reading right now?

"The Royals" by Kitty Kelly

2. How many books have you read so far?

I've only finished one, but including Royals I've read from two others.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I think "Demonglass" by Rachel Hawkins. I zoomed through the first book in the series quite quickly, and this one is just as good (though I'm only 60ish pages into it).

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Not really. I just made sure to not schedule any appointments Fri-Sun, and cancelled the weekly "Girls Night" I have with two of my best friends. We've done GN after the last couple of Thons, and it was really not a good idea.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Um, yes, definitely. Called the plumber, he was here within 15 minutes and then he didn't leave for a few hours. Other than that one massive and unexpected interruption, just the usual stuff - scratch the cats, grab something to eat, finish up a load of laundry.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon so far?

Honestly? At how fast time is going - I feel like I blink and 2 hours have passed!

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

Not so far.

8. What would you differently, as a Reader or Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nothing really - you can't plan for sewage back-ups, can you? ;)

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Shockingly, no. Though I'm afraid I might have jinxed myself just now!

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'm a big advocate for audiobooks. When it's very late and holding up a book is too tiring, being able to just sit and listen is a great thing.

Hour 12 Update

Pages read: 88

Total: 274

Time reading: 1 hr 35 min

Total: 4 hrs 33 min

Books completed: 1

Blogs visited: 0

Total: 3

Mini-challenges completed: 2

Actual reading has happened - it's a miracle! I'm enjoying the book - "The Royals" by Kitty Kelley - but I think I'll have to switch books for a little while. I'm hoping that I can finish this one up before the Thon is over, but I've got 350 pages to go, and I've got a few others that I've been saving for this event so we'll have to wait and see. I've had two cups of English Breakfast tea, but some real food will have to be eaten soon - reading apparently make you very hungry!