Erin Reads

Hour: 19

Time: 2:00am EST (I was SO supposed to be in bed two hours ago. Leaving for a wedding in 4 1/2 hours. Whoops…)

Read/listened to since last update: Finished Something Missing; started A Most Improper Magick

Brief thoughts on what I’ve read: Something Missing is an incredibly original, extremely entertaining, riveting little novel. Review will absolutely be forthcoming! A Most Improper Magick, so far, is light and fun, with a magic mirror and a trio of sisters constantly getting on one another’s nerves. It’s working out well for my poor exhausted brain!

Other Readathon-related activities: Minichallenges: Poetry Angst, Ban this Book! (scroll down for my response!), Pitch Your Book

Where I stand overall:

• The Phantom Tollbooth: 20 / 20 chapters read (DONE!)
• The Reader: 19 / 46 chapters read
• A Most Improper Magic: 7 / 21 chapters read
• The Report (10 chapters done before Readathon): 10 / 48 chapters read
• Something Missing: 17 / 17 chapters read (DONE!)
• Interpreter of Maladies: 0 / 9 stories read
• Housekeeping vs. the Dirt: 0 / 14 essays read
• An Abundance of Katherines: 0 / 19 chapters read
• A Thousand Splendid Suns: 0 / 51 chapters read
• Al Capone Shines My Shoes (audiobook) (5 hrs 40 mins done before Readathon): 7 hrs 51 mins / 7 hrs 51 mins listened to (DONE!)
• Fahrenheit 451 (audiobook): 0 hrs 0 mins / 5 hrs 8 mins listened to

For a little about why I chose each book as well as the authors, please see my initial book selection post.
For an explanation of my update format, reading time, etc., please see my initial Saturday post.
———————-

Ban This Book! Minichallenge:

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl is a book that should absolutely be banned. Talking animals? Surely this will mislead children, warping their brains beyond repair. Talking animals that steal from hardworking farmers? The children who read this filth will grow up completely devoid of morals, most likely turning to a life of sin. They will grow up believing that instead of working for a living, they can simply mooch off the backs of others less fortunate than themselves. The portrayal of the three farmers is so negative that children will surely look down on this important role in our food production system, which will ultimately cause the fabric of society to unravel. Also, the book is demeaning to women, who are too weak to assist in digging tunnels and procuring food, leaving the work to the men while they languish in their dens. Overall a very dangerous book to the well-being of children everywhere as well as the future of mankind!

(For anyone not participating in the Readathon who might be reading this…don’t take my tirade seriously! The challenge is to choose a book that should definitely not be banned and make up all sorts of silly reasons why it should. I love Fantastic Mr. Fox and would be devastated at its banning!)

I just want to thank the cheerleaders again…you guys are keeping me going!

Hour: 13

Time: 8:00pm EST

Read/listened to since last update: Al Capone Shines My Shoes (audiobook…DONE! Though I was only a few hours away when I started)

Brief thoughts on what I’ve read: Al Capone Shines My Shoes is a fantastic audiobook. It’s middle grade fiction, very well done and exciting to listen to.

Other Readathon-related activities: Cheering!; Mid Event Meme (see below); Minichallenges: Pet Pics, Attempting Audiobooks

Where I stand overall:

• The Phantom Tollbooth: 20 / 20 chapters read (DONE!)
• The Reader: 15 / 46 chapters read
• A Most Improper Magic: 0 / 21 chapters read
• The Report (10 chapters done before Readathon): 10 / 48 chapters read
• Something Missing: 6 / 17 chapters read
• Interpreter of Maladies: 0 / 9 stories read
• Housekeeping vs. the Dirt: 0 / 14 essays read
• An Abundance of Katherines: 0 / 19 chapters read
• A Thousand Splendid Suns: 0 / 51 chapters read
• Al Capone Shines My Shoes (audiobook) (5 hrs 40 mins done before Readathon): 7 hrs 51 mins / 7 hrs 51 mins listened to (DONE!)
• Fahrenheit 451 (audiobook): 0 hrs 0 mins / 5 hrs 8 mins listened to

For a little about why I chose each book as well as the authors, please see my initial book selection post.
For an explanation of my update format, reading time, etc., please see my initial Saturday post.

———————

1. What are you reading right now?

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink and Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

2. How many books have you read so far?

One whole one, a third of an audiobook, and part of two other books

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

I’d like to finish the two books I have going now. After that, time permitting, I’m looking forward to digging into either An Abundance of Katherines or A Most Improper Magick.

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

Nope! Our plans just happened to change, and Saturday was magically free. I do have to cut my reading a little short because of Sunday plans, but some reading is better than none!

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

Not really. I had to make dinner, and my husband and I went for a walk, but I just slapped on my iPod and kept on “reading”!

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

How much fun it is! I mean, I expected it to be fun, but with all the hourly activities, plus the cheerleaders and the #readathon Twitter feed… it’s like I’m not sitting here reading alone!

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

Hm…not yet, but I’ll think about it!

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

You mean “when”, not “if”! I know now what sort of books I’ll want to read: short chapters and lighter plots. They feel like they go faster. I’d also like to tweak my update post format a little, but I’m not sure how yet. I’d also like to do the whole thing next time, and I’d like to cheer more!

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Not really. My eyes are a little, though!

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?

For me, personally, it’s a lot easier to update every few hours instead of every hour. As a cheerleader, I’m glad I got together a couple of ideas beforehand!