Winner of Another Bad-Dog Book!

First order of business is to announce the winner of the signed copy of Another Bad-Dog Book by Joni B. Cole. It goes to…

Amy!

Congratulations! Winner has been notified and has 48 hours to respond. If you enjoy essays, especially humorous ones about life, this is a collection worth checking out. Thanks to the author for sponsoring the giveaway!

Today’s Agenda: Reviewathon!

Reviewathon Badge

Alita from alita.reads. had the excellent idea of holding a reviewathon. The idea is to spend some time this weekend catching up on reviews so that the impending Read-A-Thon doesn’t add to an already scary list! I do have some reviews I need to get written, so I’ll be spending part of today working on those. How cool would it be to go into the Read-A-Thon with no backlog of reviews??

Today I’m hoping to get through thoughts on Dracula by Bram Stoker (audiobook), Tracks by Eric D. Goodman, The Women of the Cousins’ War by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin and Michael Jones, Original Sins by Peg Kingman and Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (audiobook). We’ll see how far I actually get!

Happening Soon: The Read-A-Thon!

Readathon

Friends and fellow readers! The time for Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon approaches! On Saturday, October 22, readers all over the world will spend the same 24 hours doing what we all love. There will be many pages read, snacks consumed, and prizes won.

There will also be much enthusiasm! The cheerleaders are a huge part of that, a core part of the Read-A-Thon experience for pretty much anyone you ask. If you have an hour (or more) to cheer on your fellow readers, your efforts will be much appreciated! Trish and I are currently putting together cheering squads and would love to add you. There’s still time to sign up!

If you want to be really friendly to the cheerleaders as a reader, please turn off word verification just for the event. Your cheerleaders will appreciate it immeasurably. Word verification is fine when you’re just commenting on a few blogs, but when you’re trying to get through lots of them, typing those nonsense codes can get really tiring!

Tradition dictates that I post a bit about my plans for the event. It’s my first time being (co-) in charge of anything for the event, and I’m not sure yet how much time keeping the cheering going will take away from my own reading. The books on which I’ll focus are the last of my obligation books — those I’ve received specifically for review. At the top of the list are The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen and The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton, and I’m looking forward to both! I’ll also work on finishing any book I have going at the start of the event. I always have an audiobook for reading breaks, and this year I’m debating between Goliath by Scott Westerfeld and Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik. Both are the last available book in series I love, though the latter seems to have disappointed some series fans. Decisions, decisions!

The first time I participated in the Read-A-Thon, I created a new post each time I updated. The second time I created one post and updated it as needed. I liked the second approach better, so that’s what I plan to do again this time around.

Though I move around during the day’s extended reading periods, there are two spots you’ll usually find me: at my desk, checking in with other readers and cheering them on, or in my reading chair, the only place I can sit for a long time without getting uncomfortable.

Reading spots

What are your Read-A-Thon plans?

Join the Conversation

49 Comments

  1. Good luck on the read-athon and review-a-thon! I have about the same number of books to review this weekend too. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on Walk Two Moons.

    I don’t have any plans for the read-a-thon yet but I just might join. Have a great week!

    1. Thanks! I really enjoyed Walk Two Moons, which I listened to. Hope Davis is a fantastic narrator. I hope you get to join in the Readathon!

  2. I’m so very excited about Readathon! I have three books in from the library that I plan to read, and even though I haven’t officially signed up to cheer, I’ll probably spend the rest of my time cheering. I’ve discovered that if I read more than 3 or 4 books during Readathon, I don’t appreciate the books as much!

    1. Agreed! For me, I have the added problem of trying to read when I can barely keep my eyes open. That’s when I just have to throw in the towel, because I’m not processing the words I’m seeing anyway. I’m glad you get to participate and that you’ll be cheering unofficially 🙂

  3. I’m new to the 24-hour readathon and am looking forward to taking part for the first time. I doubt I’ll manage to go without sleep but I’ll try to participate as much as possible! I still need to collect some short books to choose from, but I hope to read some of Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, and I’ve also got an Anne Tyler book as I enjoyed another novel of hers recently. It looks as if you have a nice place to sit and read. I hope you enjoy the readathon.

    1. I hope you enjoy your first Readathon! It’s one of my favorite events. I always end up going to bed in the wee hours of the morning (for me…usually by hour 18 or 19). It’s fun no matter how long you make it! I enjoyed Girl with a Pearl Earring, though I read it so long ago I hardly remember it. Anne Tyler is one of those authors I keep meaning to read but haven’t gotten to. Sounds like you have some good books lined up! Have fun 🙂

    1. On and off is totally fine. There are people who participate for an hour and people who do all 24. I’ve heard really good things about Tapestry of Love, so I’m looking forward to finally reading it! As for my chair, it’s just a cheap one from Stapes, but it’s the most comfortable reading spot I’ve ever encountered. Perfect for marathon reading sessions!

  4. I am hoping to clear the calendar to be able to join along in the readathon this time around. I never have been able to join before, and I feel like I am missing out! Glad to hear that you will be joining too!

  5. I’m interested in seeing your thoughts on Dracula. I’m not quite finished. I switched over to the audiobook about a quarter of the way in, which I think has helped me keep up with all the characters!

    I’m looking forward to the read-a-thon as well! I’ll be sure to stop by next Saturday. 🙂

    1. I’ll be posting next week, closer to Halloween, but I really enjoyed it, much more than I’d expected to. I listened to it, which I think was the perfect way to experience the story, at least for the first time. I’m glad you found a way that works for you.

      Woo, have a great readathon!!

    1. Wow, good for you! Ooh, the dreaded jet lag…that’s tough. Though I’ve found the best way to beat it is to get back to your regular schedule ASAP, so maybe some enthusiastic cheering will be just the thing to keep you going? 😉

  6. I’ve been looking forward to the readathon for a while, although now that I look at my reading obligations for the week, I hope I’m not read out before then! I don’t have any set plans, yet. It somewhat depends on what I get finished this week and what I can get from the library when I go tomorrow. I don’t want to plan too much–read whatever strikes my fancy!

    1. My first readathon I planned a lot — I had a stack of potentials, thought really hard about what I wanted to read and everything. My second I just planned to read review copies. This time I’m repeating that second goal, though I’m down to just two! I should probably have some idea of what I’ll read if I happen to finish those or else I’ll waste a ton of time just gazing at my shelves 😉

      I hope you have a great readathon and pick up just the perfect books for the moment!

    1. Wheee, me too!! I’m so happy it’s twice a year and not just once. That reading chair is just a cheap thing from Staples, but I have never encountered a more comfortable reading spot. I love it when that happens!

  7. That chair looks so comfortable! I usually get some books together before the readathon, but I’ve been very remiss this year. Looks like it will be spontaneous reading this time around.

    1. It is! It’s my very favorite reading spot. I’m going more spontaneous than usual this time around, too — seems like several of us are. It’ll be fun to see what we end up reading!

    1. I’m hoping Alita will make it a regular thing, maybe right before the readathon twice a year! It felt so good to power through some reviews knowing others were hunkered down doing the same thing.

  8. I really need a reviewathon, but I was too busy to tackle that this weekend… As it is, if I participate with the readathon I won’t have a lot of time that weekend either…

    1. Yeah, it’s hard to find a weekend that works for everyone. I hope you get to participate in the readathon, at least a little!

  9. The reviewathon sounds great! I may participate next time around. Sadly, I have been struggling for reading time so I am even more excited about the readathon than I usually am as I need some solid reading time.

    I like to curl up on my couch. It is very cozy and comfortable with plenty of blankets and pillows to snuggle up with. I have my stack of books at the ready. Now I just need to plan my snacks.

    1. The reviewathon was so productive! I’m hoping there’s a next time and that this gets to be a regular event. Sounds like the readathon is coming at a good time for you. I dream of the day we’ll actually have a couch full of blankets and pillows! We only have a loveseat and a futon, one of which is two short and the other of which just doesn’t have that cozy couch feel. Ooh, snacks! I should start thinking about those…drool… 🙂

  10. Love your reading chair – looks super comfy. I’m so excited about the read-a-thon I can hardly stand myself. 🙂 Thanks for your hard work in the planning stages and have a great reading day.

    1. It is — it’s my very favorite place to read! I’m glad someone else is that excited about the readathon, because I’m right there with you. Wooo hoooo!!

  11. Yay the read-a-thon! 🙂 I don’t think I can read this time around, but I’ll see if I can cheerlead – although I won’t be able to pre-commit to a specific timeframe, can I be a less structured cheerleader??

    1. Absolutely! We’d love to have you. You can be unofficial, or you can sign up for a certain number of hours and we’ll put you in a squad, then you can cheer whenever you want. Either way, thanks 🙂

  12. I’m signed up to read and also to cheer that night, but most of the day is claimed by other (still, delightfully, bookish) activities, so I think my final Read-a-thon tally will be mostly cheering- and chatting- related. Still, that hasn’t stopped me from stockpiling a ridiculous number of books that I can, at least, pet and stroke, while sipping at and nibbling on Read-a-thon snacks. Looking forward to your update post!

    1. I’m finding half the fun of the readathon is the cheering and chatting! I love how social the event is, something I didn’t really discover until April’s event. Is there anything as fun as assembling a pile of books you’ll potentially read during a single 24-hour period along with hundreds of readers across the globe?? Even if you don’t get to them all! I’m glad you’ll be participating, at least part of the day!

    1. Thanks! I’ve heard really nice things about Tapestry of Love, so I’m looking forward to finally reading it. I think it’ll be a great book to spend a block of hours with.

  13. Your post has me thinking about my approach. Pre-baby I didn’t have to do much planning at all but now I have lots of things to plan! I’m thinking that I may need to read outside the home for the hours that Gage may distract me most. That sounds bad, doesn’t it? I invited his doting grandparents for the weekend so I could hav 24 hours just for me 🙂

    1. Good for you, carving out some you-time 🙂 I’m sure Gage’s grandparents will be happy to have him to themselves for a bit, so everyone will win. I planned a lot more my first readathon, but I do find it helps to have a general plan going in. Otherwise, the frenetic pace and energy of the readathon can feel overwhelming to me. I hope you have a great day of reading!

  14. This is awesome! I love your reading chair! I wish I could be a cheerleader this time around but I’ve been so busy (I’ve monstrously been neglecting my blog) but I did have time to pick up a copy of His Majesty’s Dragon on your excellent rec. So far I am loving it 🙂

    1. Woooooo! I’m glad you’re enjoying His Majesty’s Dragon! Did you cave and buy it, or find a library that had it?

        1. Aww, boo. Well maybe you’ll love the series, start recommending them like crazy, and make the store carry multiple copies!

  15. Your readathon chair looks really comfy! I tend to move around a lot, but am hoping that this time will be better since I won’t be about to bust!

    Glad you mentioned only doing one post–will remember to keep it open in my Google Reader so I catch all the updates (the only downside with doing one post).

    Yayayayayay!!!

    1. Oh, that’s right! I remember lots of “please, baby, just wait until after this weekend!” from the last Readathon 🙂 I did multiple posts for my first Readathon, but I know I have followers who don’t participate or really even care about the Readathon, and I hate to overwhelm their inboxes/readers/Facebook feeds with a gazillion updates. I know it’s less convenient for those who are participating in the Readathon. I always figure I may get fewer cheerleaders, but…that’s ok!

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