Readathon Update Post

It is four minutes until the official start of the Readathon (6:00 AM MDT for me). I'll be using this post throughout the day to update on the readathon. I plan on reading until 6:00 PM MDT, after which I am going to spend time with my husband (although if I get any time in after that -- icing on the cake!).

Here is my Stack:

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber (not pictured, ebook)
True Grit by Charles Portis
Crossed by Ally Condie
A Doctor's Journey by Frederic A Mendelsohn, MD
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
84, Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Here is my belated introduction meme:
1)Where are you reading from today? Provo, UT
2)Three random facts about me…
* I'm a student nurse
* I've been wearing a Snuggie for the last four hours
* I hiked a mountain last night
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 8 - but I don't expect to get through them all
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? - At least 10 hours. 
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? I'm a brand new baby readathoner, so we'll see how this goes!


Hour 18

Currently Reading: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Pages Read: 872

Books Read: 4

Cups of tea consumed: 3 (and a cocoa bean)

Cookies consumed: 7

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Exhausted. I am throwing in the towel, everyone! It has been a fantastic first readathon and I was able to do much more than I planned. Thanks to everyone who hosted, commented, and cheered! You are all the best. 

Hour 17

Currently Reading: A Doctor's Journey by Fredric A. Mendelsohn, M.D.

Pages Read: 816

Books Read: 3

Cups of tea consumed: 3 (and a cocoa bean)

Cookies consumed: 7

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: So, A Doctor's Journey is definitely a flawed book (lots of grammatical errors, lack of a cohesive unifying theme) but it is still pretty entertaining. I think if I have any time to read after I finish this one, I am going to go back to The Historian (a book I am 300 pages into) and just chip away at that for the rest of the evening. I didn't want to start off with it as it is thick and heavy (and wonderful), and I also didn't want it to be forgotten as I consumed other books. But I don't think I will be reading long enough to finish anything else, so I think I'll go back to my big heavy tome. 

Hours 14 - 16
I cheated on the Readathon by going on a date. (Gasp!) My husband and I ate mac and cheese with tuna and ketchup (isn't it awesome that we have the same totally nasty comfort food taste buds?), then went to Red Mango for pumpkin spice yogurt (my two favorite things -- pumpkin + yogurt = nirvana) and then we picked out some pumpkins to carve tomorrow with our friends. Then we watched half of The Pelican Brief. Which was inspired by a book. So it totally counts.

Anyway, I thought I would be done for the night but the Husband did not prepare all his lessons for the week (he teaches beginning Italian at BYU) so instead of slumping off to bed in preparation for my 8:00 church, I am valiantly sticking around for a little longer.

Also, totally realize that I am in Hour 17. However, I sum up at the end of the hour. Sensible? (I think I'm doing it backwards from everyone else). Okay, let's see if I can hammer out 50 pages.


Hour 13

Currently Reading: A Doctor's Journey by Fredric A. Mendelsohn, M.D.

Pages Read: 767

Books Read: 3

Cups of tea consumed: 3 (and a cocoa bean)

Cookies consumed: 7

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Um, A Doctor's Journey is kind of depressing. So far, all of the stories have sad endings. Which makes sense, being a doctor who deals with head trauma. But still -- hoping to see a ray of hope in here soon. Other than that, his prose is extremely readable. I am enjoying all the different stories. It's been a while since I've read a memoir, and they are kind of a guilty pleasure for me. 

Also, LOOK! A SURVEY! Let's make this endless post even longer, shall we (can you imagine if I was going for the full 24 hours?!?)?

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? A Doctor's Journey by Fredric A. Mendelsohn, M.D. 
2. How many books have you read so far? 3
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Well, I don't know how much more I will be doing, but my favorite book in my stack is A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? I did the housecleaning yesterday and procrastinating my homework. Other than that, not really!
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Book club for two hours, which was fun. My husband comes in occasionally and talks to me, but those are welcome breaks. :)
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How fast the time is going! I feel like I just barely woke up!
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I am enjoying it so far!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Next year, I think I will only update every two hours. 
9. Are you getting tired yet? NOPE!! SUGAR HIGH!! (I totally have NOT had caffeine, by the way! All the tea I drink is herbal! I guess maybe there was a little in the cocoa bean but nothing like a cup of coffee or anything!)
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? Short books. But I think others have discovered that. 


I just heard my door click. Is the husband home? I might be done for now, we will see!


Hour 12

Currently Reading: A Doctor's Journey by Fredric A. Mendelsohn, M.D.

Pages Read: 704

Books Read: 3

Cups of tea consumed: 3 (and a cocoa bean)

Cookies consumed: 7

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Halfway! Although I don't know how much longer I will be going, it is great to have made it this far! I finished Crossed and thought it was lovely, although quieter than the average dystopian read. I have now started A Doctor's Journey, and I already think I've found a kindred spirit in the author. Like me, he started out in music, and then ended up studying the brain (except he's a neurologist). And then I changed my mind some more and am working on becoming a nurse. But as I read what he is writing about creativity and music as well as medicine I am really relating. Glad I am getting to this one!

Hour 11

Currently Reading: Crossed by Ally Condie

Pages Read: 618

Books Read: 2

Cups of tea consumed: 3 (and a cocoa bean)

Cookies consumed: 7

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Enjoying Crossed still. So far I've seen only lukewarm reviews, but I am wrapped up in the story. Also, the husband just left for a study group so date night is going to be a little later than planned. More time to read!

Mini-challenge: There is a book trailer challenge hosted over at Quirky Girls Read featuring book trailers. I am in general not a huge fan of book trailers, but I thought this one was done well: 

It is a bit longer than the average book trailer. But lovely. It makes me cry. 

Hours 9 and 10
I went to book club! I won't post any new reading stats because I wasn't reading, but we talked about The Book Thief and the book we will be reading next month, Daughter of Smoke and Bone (so excited!). I consumed a creme de menthe cocoa bean (like coffee, but roasted CHOCOLATE instead!) and enjoyed talking with Jamie (our other book clubby friends were busy today). I also unintentionally left the house looking like a TOTAL hipster, just by wearing the clothes I like. I'm talking huge beanie, feather earrings, giant sweater, skinny jeans, and TOMs. I usually don't dress just to follow a trend, so when I realized I was all hipster-ized, I was slightly ashamed. But I guess if my natural inward fashionista leans toward hipster, that is how I will dress. Anyway...


Hour 8

Currently Reading: Crossed by Ally Condie

Pages Read: 527

Books Read: 2

Cups of tea consumed: 3

Cookies consumed: 5

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Time for me to take a little break and go to the Forever Young Adult book club meeting. I usually stay for two or three hours, but I think this time I will keep it short so I can get back to my readathon time! I'm dying to finish Crossed. 

Hour 7

Currently Reading: Crossed by Ally Condie

Pages Read: 446

Books Read: 2

Cups of tea consumed: 3

Cookies consumed: 4

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: I put makeup on. Hooray. Now my husband is at home and watching the game, so I've retreated to the bedroom. I am enjoying Crossed a bit more than the other books that I've read so far -- I am more wrapped up in the world and not thinking about page numbers as much. 

Hour 6

Currently Reading: Crossed by Ally Condie

Pages Read: 366

Books Read: 2

Cups of tea consumed: 3

Cookies consumed: 4

Pumpkin Spice Lollipops consumed: 1 (It tastes like Christmas!!)

How I'm feeling: Like it is going too fast! And I should probably put makeup on today at some point, rather than lounging around like a heathen. Oh well. 

Minichallenge: (Hosted by Lisa's World of Books:) 5 Books I am Looking Forward to in the Coming Months:

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

2. Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos

3. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (which I may get to today, hooray!)

4. The Dead Tossed Waves and The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (which I shall read on Halloween!)

5. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Hour 5

Currently Reading: True Grit by Charles Portis

Pages Read: 388

Books Read: 1

Cups of tea consumed: 3

Cookies consumed: 4

How I'm feeling: There is a mini-challenge at Just One More Thing.  Don't mind if I do. I feel like I am reading a bit slower than usual... maybe tiredness? It is hard to say. I am at the climax of True Grit with only a few pages left in the book and it is excellent! 

Also, Readathon cheerleaders, you rock. It is nice to look up from my book and see that I have a few comments. LOVE YOU GUYS *sniffles*. Haha. But seriously. 

Hour 4

Currently Reading: True Grit by Charles Portis

Pages Read: 330

Books Read: 1

Cups of tea consumed: 3

How I'm feeling: Just realized there are mini-challenges and special questions and STUFF! Missed the first few, but I'm going to participate now: Head on over to Avid Reader's Musings for the state mini-challenge. Woot. 

Also, um, there was an introduction meme I missed. Now posting it at the beginning of this ever changing post.

Hour 3
Currently Reading: True Grit by Charles Portis

Pages Read: 266

Books Read: 1

Cups of tea consumed: Starting on the first one. In the process I managed to break my teapot. Dang it. 

How I'm feeling: There is nothing better than a readathon in a cozy sweater and a snuggie. 

Hour 2
Currently Reading: True Grit by Charles Portis
Pages Read: 202
Books Read: 1
Cups of tea consumed: 0
How I'm feeling: Getting hungry.
Mini-review (Full to come in the future): Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick was much better than I was expecting. Kind of a high school James Bond with a femme fatale. It was a high energy start to my first readathon!


Hour 1
Currently Reading: Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
Pages Read: 87
Books read: 0
Cups of tea consumed: 0
How I'm feeling: This book is better than I was expecting! One hour down and still going strong.