24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Twenty-Four

Title of book(s) read since last update: n/a
Number of books read since you started: 3, parts of 2; 4 short stories; 3 comic books
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce; The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman; "The Festival," H.P. Lovecraft; "The Watcher in the Mill," W.J. Wintle, The Ghosts of Charleston, Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton III; Serenity: Better Days, Joss Whedon
Pages read since last update: 0
Running total of pages read since you started: 845
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 0
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 671 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge, Tracy's Mini Challenge-Caption This Photo, C.B.'s short story mini-challenge, Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge, Hour 21 drawing, Bart's giveaway
Other participants you’ve visited: J.C. Montgomery, Patti, Callista, Chris, Jen, Twigga, Laurie, Michelle, Bybee, Nymeth, Becky, Traci and Brandon, Alexis, gautami tripathy, Kimmy, Andi, Debi, Annie, Shannon, Jess/Pennie, Bart, Tammy, Heather, Heather, Wordlily, cCymraeg Ddewines, Jessica, Laura, Shauna, Laura, Brittanie, Annette, Paula Marie, L-squared, Ivan Girl, Yati, xicanti, Jenn
Prizes you've won: none (yet!)

Well, I pretty much gave up trying to read this last hour. I am SO SLEEPY. I decided instead to jump around and encourage everyone else. And now I'm off to bed, after I finish the wrap-up survey:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Probably this last one - I gave up on reading (WAY too tired) and just blog-hopped instead, to encourage anyone else still up.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The Twilight series, Uglies (although I never got around to Specials), graphic novels

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, it was awesome!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked being able to go to The Hidden Side of a Leaf and find out what was going on for a particular hour.

5. How many books did you read? I finished 3, read part of 1, listened to part of 1, read 4 short stories and 3 comic books

6. What were the names of the books you read? Pretties, Bella at Midnight, The Ghosts of Charleston (I didn't finish The Graveyard Book or Harry Potter y la camara secreta)

7. Which book did you enjoy most? I loved The Graveyard Book, but I just couldn't stay awake listening to it.

8. Which did you enjoy least? None

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't a cheerleader, but I tried to visit everyone at least once. I think I got pretty close! :)

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Very likely! I will definitely read and probably host a mini-challenge

Great job, everyone! I had so much fun. Thank you to all of my cheerleaders who kept coming by and motivating me! You guys rock! :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Twenty-Two

Title of book(s) read since last update: Serenity: Better Days, Joss Whedon
Number of books read since you started: 3, parts of 2; 4 short stories; 3 comics
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce; The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman; "The Festival," H.P. Lovecraft; "The Watcher in the Mill," W.J. Wintle, The Ghosts of Charleston, Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton III
Pages read since last update: 105
Running total of pages read since you started: 845
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 20 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 671 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge, Tracy's Mini Challenge-Caption This Photo, C.B.'s short story mini-challenge, Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge, Hour 21 drawing
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 this hour
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

I took a break from novels to read the Serenity: Better Days comics. My only gripe is that there were only three of them. :) I was super-happy to see Wash again (I bawled when I read the spoilers for the movie, but when I actually saw IT happen on screen, I was more mad than sad). Anyway, this hour's mini-challenge is to visit Bart and enter his giveaway drawing. So go do it!

Happy reading to whoever's still out there. :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Twenty-One

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Ghosts of Charleston, Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton III
Number of books read since you started: 3, parts of 2; 4 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce; The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman; "The Festival," H.P. Lovecraft; "The Watcher in the Mill," W.J. Wintle; The Ghosts of Charleston, Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton III
Pages read since last update: 114
Running total of pages read since you started: 739
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 60 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 651 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge, Tracy's Mini Challenge-Caption This Photo, C.B.'s short story mini-challenge, Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge, Hour 21 drawing
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 this hour
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

I finished my third book! I'm starting to get sleepy again, but I'm trying to fight it off - only 2 more hours to go. I think. Anyway, The Ghosts of Charleston was an excellent book. I love historical ghost stories - when I was in Girl Scouts, going to Savannah and going on the walking ghost tour was a Really Big Deal. I'm going to take a break from novels now and read my Serenity comics. W00t!

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Twenty

Title of book(s) read since last update: 2 short stories: "The Festival," H.P. Lovecraft; "The Watcher in the Mill," W.J. Wintle; The Ghosts of Charleston, Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton III
Number of books read since you started: 2, parts of 3; 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce; The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman; "The Festival," H.P. Lovecraft; "The Watcher in the Mill," W.J. Wintle
Pages read since last update: 44
Running total of pages read since you started: 625
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 60 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 591 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge, Tracy's Mini Challenge-Caption This Photo, C.B.'s short story mini-challenge, Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Mari and Andi
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

Well, I'm pretty sure I won't be dropping off to sleep again anytime soon...I just made myself a post-midnight snack of tomato soap, which was yummy, and I'm working my way through scary stories for Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge. I read two short stories to begin, because I really don't own any scary books. I was a bit disappointed with Lovecraft; I've not read anything of his before, but from what I've heard I guess I just expected more. Maybe the story I picked just wasn't scary enough. "The Watcher in the Mill" was great, though. I read it right next to a window and had the uncomfortable feeling I was being watched the whole time. Creepy! Then I went tearing around my room, trying to find something non-pixelated to scare myself with. In the end, I came across an autographed copy of The Ghosts of Charleston that I've had for who knows how long. It's more historical than horror, but I'm still jumping at random sounds and keeping too many lights on.

Happy reading! :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Nineteen

Title of book(s) read since last update:
Number of books read since you started: 2, parts of 2; 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce; The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Pages read since last update: 0
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 0
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 531 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge, Tracy's Mini Challenge-Caption This Photo
Other participants you’ve visited: Nicole, Care, Fyrefly
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

...And I'm back! Thanks to everyone who has stopped by to encourage (or offer wake-up calls)! I can't believe it, but I just might make it through this thing. I decided to forgo The Graveyard Book for right now - I'm just too tired to be read to. I will be participating in C.B.'s short story mini-challenge and Carl's R.I.P. mini-challenge. Now I'm off to find some scary (short) stories...

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Seventeen

Title of book(s) read since last update: still watching The Graveyard Book
Number of books read since you started: 2, parts of 2; 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce
Pages read since last update: n/a
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 59 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 531 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Ashley and Laurie
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

Just finished chapter three of The Graveyard Book - it's still amazing, of course. I'm getting really tired, though, and have decided to take a quick catnap. See you all soon!

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Fifteen

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Number of books read since you started: 2, parts of 2; 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce
Pages read since last update: n/a
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 43
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 472 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge, softdrink's 10 list mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Chris, Nymeth, Dewey, Veens, Nise, Joanne
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

I just finished chapter two of The Graveyard Book, and I am loving it! I actually laughed out loud while watching Gaiman read ("I'll eat your liver!" "Oh, no you won't."), something that doesn't normally happen when I read books. I don't know if it was really that funny, or if the expression on his face (and the accent) added to it. I ADORE the way Gaiman says "chocolate," though. He's used it in both chapters so far, and I'm really hoping it makes an appearance in the next six. My only problem is that it's getting past my normal bedtime and his voice is so soothing...I just drank a cup of coffee and will probably need to take a quick walk outside before too long.

Softdrink has posted a new mini-challenge - a 'thon-themed top 10 list! Here's mine:

Jessi's Top 7 Books Added to Her Wishlist Because of the Read-a-Thon:
7. In The Woods (read by raych)
6. I Was Told There'd Be Cake (read by Andi)
5. The Wordy Shipmates (read by Fyrefly)
4. Lessons Learned from the Freedom Writers (read by Alison)
3. Nation (read by Chris)
2. Magic Trixie (read by Andi)
1. Austenland (read by Fyrefly)

There would be more, but I'm eager to get back to Gaiman.

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Fourteen

Title of book(s) read since last update: The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Number of books read since you started: 2, parts of 2; 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce
Pages read since last update: n/a
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 45 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 429 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge, Mid-Event Survey, Hour 14 question, Sharon's Very Min-Library Cat Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 this hour
Prizes you’ve won: none (yet!)

I just finished watching Neil Gaiman read chapter one of The Graveyard Book. I adore listening to him read - especially the voices he gives his characters. I just hope I'll be able to get through all eight chapters tonight...

Sharon's Very Mini-Library Cat Challenge asks:

1. Go to this website. Find on the map a library cat that lives/lived closest to you (there are library cats in Canada). What is the cats name? What library is/was it located in? The closest library to me (on the map, at least), the Twin Lakes Public Library in Milledgeville, which has two cats: Ashes and Creed.

2. Which library does Dewey live in? Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa

3. What is the name of the library cat documentary film that Dewey was in? Puss in Books

4. What is Dewey's full name? Dewey Readmore Books

Now, back to Gaiman...

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Thirteen

Title of book(s) read since last update: n/a
Number of books read since you started: 2, part of 1, 2 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling, Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce
Pages read since last update: n/a
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: n/a
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 384 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: raych, care, Alessandra, Lynda, Amanda, Rhinoa, Jodie, Patti, Andi, Wordlily, Fyrefly, Jess/Pennie
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

Since it's finally dark out (it's a little after 8pm here), I've decided to start watching The Graveyard Book. If anyone else would like to join me, here's where you'll find it. Happy reading!

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Twelve

Title of book(s) read since last update: currently listening to "A Horseman in the Sky," Ambrose Bierce
Number of books read since you started: 2, part of 1; 1.5 short stories
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling; Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley; "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Ambrose Bierce
Pages read since last update: n/a
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 384 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge, Kim's "walkin' and snappin'" mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 this hour
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? I'm listening to two Ambrose Bierce short stories from The Classic Tales Podcast.

2. How many books have you read so far? I've finished two, read part of one, and listened to one (almost two) short stories.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Either The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (which I got out of my car during last hour's mini-challenge break) or Specials (so I can finish up the Uglies trilogy).

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Nope! I had to turn down a few social invitations, but nothing that couldn't wait.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? My roommate invited a friend over for dinner, but she placated me with food and cake. I just looked at it like a break and got back to reading as soon as I could.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I don't drink much caffeine, so I'm surprised at how awake and alert I've been feeling. I didn't get much sleep last night, but I haven't been tired or had the urge to take a nap all day. I'm sure I'll be passing out in a few hours, but for now I'm really pleased with myself.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I think it would be fun to organize a book club - if we could get everyone to agree on a book to read and write about for a few hours, just to see how our opinions differ.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I think I did okay this year. I wouldn't mind having more snacks in the apartment...

9. Are you getting tired yet? Nope! (knock wood)

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 think taking that walk outside really energized me, especially since the weather is starting to get colder. Having an awesome roommate who makes you cake for no reason is pretty helpful, too. :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Mini-Challege Break!

Kim has challenged us to go out for a walk and take some pictures. Here are mine:

The cake my roommate made for me:


The pond near my apartment:


An interesting-looking tree:


Some honeysuckle blossoms:


It got progressively darker the longer I was out - pretty soon, it'll be time to watch Neil Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book. :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Eleven

Title of book(s) read since last update: Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley
Number of books read since you started: 2, part of 1
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling
Pages read since last update: 117
Running total of pages read since you started: 581
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 70 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 344 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, Icedream's book cover mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: 0 this hour
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

I finished my second book! Bella at Midnight was NOT the Cinderella tale I thought it would be. I quite enjoyed it. And guess what? Nimbus - one of my words from the Freerice.com mini-challenge - was used in the book! That made me smile.

I feel a lot better now that I've showered and changed. My roommate even made a cake, which I will post a picture of in my next update. She made a wonderful dinner of fettuccine Alfredo with scallops, mushrooms, and peas. I wasn't super-hungry, but it sure tasted wonderful! We have a whole pot left over for when I do get hungry again in the middle of the night.

Now I'm off to stretch my legs and complete Kim's mini-challenge. Happy reading! :)

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Nine

Title of book(s) read since last update: Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley
Number of books read since you started: 1, parts of 2
Pages read since last update: 94
Running total of pages read since you started: 558
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 43 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 317 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2, and I'm working on Icedream's right now
Other participants you’ve visited: Chris and gautami tripathy
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

My roommate just called to tell me that she's bringing a friend over for dinner. Right now. Which means I have to go make myself presentable and stop lounging around the living room being slothful. Oh, well.

Bella at Midnight is getting really interesting. I never thought I would sympathize with the stepmother and stepsisters, but I kinda do.

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Seven/Eight

Title of book(s) read since last update: Bella at Midnight, Diane Stanley
Number of books read since you started: 1, parts of 2
Pages read since last update: 66
Running total of pages read since you started: 464
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 35 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 274 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge, Freerice.com 2
Other participants you’ve visited: Fyrefly, Andi, J.C. Montgomery
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

I decided to start reading Bella at Midnight next. I bought this from a Scholastic book club a few weeks ago. I'm the only teacher at my school who actually buys anything from them, but the librarian appreciates the free books I earn for her. :) It's interesting so far - it changes narrators each chapter, which is somewhat confusing but good because it gives you everyone's perspective.

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Six Part 2

Title of book(s) read since last update: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
Number of books read since you started: 1, part of 1
Titles of books read since you started: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
Pages read since last update: 0
Running total of pages read since you started: 398
Amount of time spent reading since last update: Does reading blogs count? Cause that's all I've been doing...
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 239 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge, Meryl's book quote mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Alison, Debi, Traci, Amanda, jehara, Tammy, tanabata, raych, Sharon, Sarah, Lizzie, Sunny, Joanne
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

I took a bit of a break this hour. After finishing my first book (huzzah!) I decided to spend some time blog-hopping and cheerleading. NOW I'm going to make lunch - Sarah has given me a craving for a tuna salad sandwich, stat.

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Six

Title of book(s) read since last update: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
Number of books read since you started: parts of 2
Pages read since last update: 125
Running total of pages read since you started: 273
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 64 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 239 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Veens, Nymeth, Wordlily, Trish, Aerin, Rob
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

I missed my hourly update for Hour Five because I got so into Pretties, but I have my first book finished! I read for an hour straight, which was really relaxing. Now I'm going to take a short break, visit some blogs, have some lunch, and then get started on my next book.

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Four

Title of book(s) read since last update: Pretties, Scott Westerfield; Harry Potter y la camara secreta, J.K. Rowling
Number of books read since you started: part of 2
Pages read since last update: only 28 :(
Running total of pages read since you started: 273
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 60 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 175 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge, Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: none this hour
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

For Sarah's mini-challenge, I decided to read my copy of Harry Potter y la camara secreta. I only read a few chapters (reading in Spanish is a lot harder than reading in English), but it was nice to get another challenge done and to take a break from Pretties (even though I love the book and can't wait to finish it!).

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Three

Title of book(s) read since last update: still on Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
Number of books read since you started: part of 1
Pages read since last update: 73
Running total of pages read since you started: 245
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 115 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Freerice.com mini-challenge and I'm about to start on Sarah's foreign language mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Angela, Iliana, Trish, Callista, Wordlily, Alessandra, Wendy, chainreader, Becky, shelburns
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!), but I was a Reader of the Hour, which was pretty sweet

Before I start reading my foreign language book for Sarah's challenge, I wanted to share a quote from Pretties that I absolutely adored (WARNING: may be spoilery if you haven't read the series):

"Why am I unhappy?" Tally repeated softly. "Because the city makes you the way they want to you be, Peris. And I want to be myself. That's why."
He squeezed her shoulder and gave her a sad look. "But people are better now than they used to be. Maybe they have good reasons for changing us, Tally."
"Their reasons don't mean anything unless I have a choice, Peris. And they don't give anyone a choice."

Hooray for sticking it to the man!

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour Two

The current mini-challenge is to go to this website and test your vocabulary knowledge to earn free rice. I played until I got to 2,000 grains and learned a bunch of new words that I will probably forget in a few minutes. Did you know that nimbus is actually a word? I thought J.K. Rowling made it up. :)

Now I really need to get back to reading. Thanks to everyone who dropped by to encourage me - it really means a lot! I'll be coming to visit all of you soon...

Happy reading!

24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Hour One Wrap-Up..Again

Title of book(s) read since last update: Pretties, Scott Westerfeld
Number of books read since you started: part of 1
Pages read since last update: 92
Running total of pages read since you started: 172
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 85 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Does the meme below count? If so, 1 by the end of this post. :)
Other participants you’ve visited: Fyrefly, Michelle, Sally and Amy, Nymeth, gautami tripathy
Prize you’ve won: none (yet!)

I've worked out a system - I saved a template that includes the above list, my running page count, and running reading time. Now I can just copy and paste every time I do an update! Apparently, I started an hour early. Oops. I guess this just means I'll have to finish an hour early tomorrow. Oh, well. Dewey has posted a meme for us complete for this "first" hour:

Where are you reading from today? My apartment. Mostly the daybed in my living room that serves as a couch. My roommate doesn't know it, but I commandeered her Fuzzy Poodle Blanket to keep me warm while I'm reading.

3 facts about me …
1. I can say a completely useless phrase ("I am a big duck.") in 10 different languages. It started as a joke in high school, and sort of mutated from there... [UPDATE: Deb asked which languages. They are: English (obvs), Spanish, French, German, Russian, Latin, Italian, Hindi, Cambodian, and Japanese. If anyone else knows another language not on that list and would like to teach me how to say "I'm a big duck" in that language, please do!]
2. I have read three different versions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone: American, British, and Spanish
3. Even though I have lived in Georgia all my life, I cannot stand the taste of sweet tea. Apparently this makes me an anomaly.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 6 books, 2 graphic novels, 3 comic books, and 2 magazines, in addition to various audiobooks

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)? My goals are to stay up for as long as possible and read as much as possible. I'd like to read at least 3 of my books, both of the graphic novels, and all three of the comics. We'll see. I'd also like to visit new blogs and make some new friends.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? I was a cheerleader last year, so I wouldn't exactly call myself a veteran. As a Literature teacher, however, my best advice would be to have fun. Which reading always is, right? :)