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It’s time for Dewey’s Read-A-Thon! I’m keeping track of my progress here and posting on Twitter and maybe a little on Instagram whenever there is an update.

Jolene and I are planning on recording a sort of Readathon themed episode of Pickled Okra today, so be on the lookout for that.

Here are the two stacks I’m working from. Not pictured are a few books on my Kindle that I might end up reading.

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Image may be NSFW.
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Scroll down for mini-challenges.

Goals: Finish some of the travel titles in preparation for my upcoming trip to Scotland and residency at The Open Book. I’d also like to finish Drums of Autumn today and read 600 pages.

Pages read: 1081
Titles finished during Read-A-Thon: 5

Reading:
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Finished – 353pgs)
Rosalie Lightning by Tom Hart (Finished – 261pgs)
Edith Wharton: Selected Poems (Finished – 169pgs)
Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy (Finished – 112pgs)
In Scotland Again by H. V. Morton (10pgs)
Russian Olive to Red King by Kathryn Immonen (Finished – 176pgs)

Updates

6:58am – I’ve been awake for two hours, giving me a total of about four hours of sleep last night. Tried to go back to sleep and that didn’t work, so there will probably be a nap today. I got up and made tea and hardboiled some eggs. Listened to a little bit of Drums of Autumn to get a jump on things.

9:37 – Started Rosalie Lightning. Forgot that it was in one of my older library piles and I wanted to go ahead and get through it so I could return it. It’s as good as I’ve heard people say. I’ve been listening to Drums of Autumn off and on (mostly on) while I did a few things around the house. Now I’m curled up in my room, thinking about when my nap will happen.

2:26pm – No idea when the nap started, but I read another 50 pages before I let that happen and feel so much the better for it. Woke up about an hour ago feeling well rested and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the day. Drums of Autumn has taken an infuriating path! There’s nothing worse than when you know everything that’s going on, but none of the characters are communicating. But Brianna is drawing now, so it’s only a matter of time. I just hope it isn’t too late.

4:36 – Sat down to write this update half an hour ago and was distracted by phone calls and whatnot. Taking a break from Drums of Autumn so I can attempt to finish another title. Going to start some poems and see where I end up. Also looks like we may not be podcasting, in case anyone was counting on that.

8:56 – Hit my page goal and finished the collection of Edith Wharton poems, as well as Rosalie Lightning. Absolutely loved it. Not sure if I’m going to get into one of these travel books or try to go ahead and push through the end of DoA.

10:37 – Started reading In Scotland Again for a little while and I really enjoy the writing style, but it’s just not what I needed to keep me going at this time of night. Picked up one of the graphic novels I found at the library a few days ago — Sandcastle. This story is totally bizarre, like an episode of the Twilight Zone. I’m really glad I happened to pick it up.

3:03am – Still going! Took a shower and settled in to finish Drums of Autumn. Had a cup of chamomile tea with lavender and I wondered if it would put me to sleep, but it seems to have been a good move. I was planning to read a little of Me Before You, but my Kindle needs to charge so I’m looking at my stacks of books and trying to decide on something.

10:29am (Sunday, final update) – Decided on Russian Olive to Red King, which I carried with me to bed. It was a good one and I made it most of the way through before sleep even threatened, but I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to hang around much longer. Finished that book and I liked it. Might need to go through it again because I’m not entirely sure I understand everything about it. I liked the way it dealt with the idea of connection between two people.

Opening Meme

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Norman, Oklahoma
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Me Before You. Seems like it would be good Readathon material.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? That Truffle Pig dark chocolate bar that I’ve hidden away from myself so I could have it today.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I’m leaving for Scotland in 10 days to wander around for almost 3 weeks and stay at The Open Book in Wigtown.
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? This is my 14th readathon (I think) and one of the few where I didn’t volunteer to cheer or take on anything else other than reading, so I’m looking forward to that aspect of it. Jolene and I are also going to try to podcast later in the day.

End of Event Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? I don’t think any were truly daunting this time around. I accepted the fact that I was going to need a nap at some point in the day and let myself take it.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The last 200 pages of Drums of Autumn were action-packed and I really wanted to know what happened, so that worked for me. Sandcastle was such a weird story and it’s a graphic novel so it was a good way to rest the eyes. You’ll wonder where that one is going.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season? Cheerleaders – Readathon is getting so big I’m wondering if the idea is even manageable anymore Image may be NSFW.
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4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I don’t know, but the level of participation seemed to be really high. Adding a Facebook group seems like it was a great idea. There was so much activity over there.
5. How many books did you read? Info above.
6. What were the names of the books you read? Info above.
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Drums of Autumn, when I stopped being frustrated with it. I have a love/hate relationship with Herself.
8. Which did you enjoy least? Out of the ones I finished, the Edith Wharton poems, shockingly. There were quite a few good ones in there, but I can hardly be bothered to read an epic poem or series of poems about…I don’t know, whatever it was, someone from Greek or Roman history.
9. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Always. It’s one of my favorite holidays Image may be NSFW.
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