More of Morph: 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Hour 16 - I'm Done!

Can't make it anymore. Headed to bed. Nighters!

Current Book: Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson

Number of books read since you started: 4

Pages read since last update: 34

Running total of pages read since you started: 1,060

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 34 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 558 minutes

Hour 15

Current Book: Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson

Number of books read since you started: 4

Pages read since last update: 113

Running total of pages read since you started: 1,026

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 43 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 524 minutes

Hour 14

Current Book: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Number of books read since you started: 3

Pages read since last update: 86

Running total of pages read since you started: 913

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 481 minutes

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

2. How many books have you read so far? Three

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? No particular book. I haven't decided what to read.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No, just let my hubby know I would be distracted.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? None.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How much reading nonfiction slows me down.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Last readathon I recommended more mini-challenges that didn't take up as much time. I'm glad to see they did that and recommend that they continue for the next one.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? No nonfiction. Too slow!

9. Are you getting tired yet? Yes, not sure how much longer I can read unless I get a second wind.

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? Nothing new. Just how important it is to start off with something easy. And keep nonfiction off your pile!

Hour 13

Current Book: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Number of books read since you started: 3

Pages read since last update: 71

Running total of pages read since you started: 827

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 47 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 441 minutes

Hour 12

STILL not done with the Fadiman. Not that I'm not enjoying it, because I am, but...

Current Book: At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 42

Running total of pages read since you started: 756

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 41 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 394 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Books That Bite

Hour 11

I have a bunch of kids' books lined up to read when I'm done with the Fadiman. I need to get caught up on my page count! Note for the next readathon. No nonfiction. I read it TOO SLOWLY.

* * * * *

Current Book: At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 44

Running total of pages read since you started: 714

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 37 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 353 minutes

Hour 10

Feeling like a dumb butt because I've been complaining all over about not getting cheerleading comments when they've all been sitting in Comment Moderation. I'm supposed to get email notification of them, dangit!

Meanwhile, I took a shower and did some life necessary tasks this hour and got NO reading done. Bad readathoner! Bad! No cookie for you. *eats her Zingers*

Oh, I did one thing.

Mini-challenges completed: Re-Reading

Feed Me Challenge

At Large and At Small
by Anne Fadiman

Now, under the watchful eye of a husband so virtuous that he actually prefers low-fat frozen yogurt, I go through the motions of scooping a modest hemisphere of ice cream into a small bowl, but we both know that during the course of the evening I will simply shuttle to and from the freezer until the entirety of the pint has been transferred from carton to bowl to me. A major incentive for writing this essay was that during its composition this process was not called greed; it was called research.

Hour 9

I'm slow, slow, slow. I won't beat last readathon's pages at this rate. My next two books will be children's so I maybe catch up!

Current Book: At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 35

Running total of pages read since you started: 670

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 34 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 316 minutes

My Readathon Company

Tawnie & Maia

Hour 8

Current Book: At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 54 (It's nonfiction. I read it slower, dang.)

Running total of pages read since you started: 635

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 42 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 282 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Who Keeps You Company?

Hour 7

Current Book: At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman

Number of books read since you started: 2

Pages read since last update: 122

Running total of pages read since you started: 581

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 42 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 237 minutes

Hour 6

I'm not happy with the quantity of reading so far. I'm spending too much time doing challenges. And I'm feeling bummed I've had no cheerleading. Last time I had comments on almost every post.

Current Book: 1st to Die by James Patterson

Number of books read since you started: 1

Pages read since last update: 65

Running total of pages read since you started: 459

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 27 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 195 minutes

Prizes you’ve won: Two books of my choice from the prize list for readers of the hour

Hour 5

Current Book: 1st to Die by James Patterson

Number of books read since you started: 1

Pages read since last update: 99

Running total of pages read since you started: 394

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 36 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 168 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Excerpt Expert

Best Sentence Challenge

A girl named Zippy, in the company of the courtesan, kidnapped my family and other animals.

(All the books are from my to be read pile.)

Hour 4

Current Book: 1st to Die by James Patterson

Number of books read since you started: 1

Pages read since last update: 92

Running total of pages read since you started: 295

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 43 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 132 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Best Sentence

Hour 3

Current Book: 1st to Die by James Patterson

Number of books read since you started: 1

Pages read since last update: 83

Running total of pages read since you started: 203

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 38 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 89 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: Intro, Trending on Twitter, Where in the World, Readers of the Hour

Participants Visited: Good Books & Wine, True Harbour, Aphazia, Karen

Readathon Trending

For the Trending on Twitter Challenge

Hour 2

Current Book: 1st to Die by James Patterson

Title of book(s) read since last update: Anita Blake, The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton (graphic novel)

Number of books read since you started: 1

Pages read since last update: 120

Running total of pages read since you started: 120

Amount of time spent reading since last update: 51 minutes

Running total of time spent reading since you started: 51 minutes

Hour 1

I learned my lesson with the April Read-a-Thon and I'm starting easy with a graphic novel, Anita Blake, The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Where are you reading from today? Home, on the couch

3 facts about me … I'm crocheting an afghan for the UU church auction. I've lost 50 pounds. I just started watching Glee and I love it.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 36 books from the library

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)? I'd like to read at least 14 hours and beat my pages from the April Read-a-thon (1,736).

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time? Start with an easy read. Get a good night's rest the night before.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Final Pile

Here are the last books picked up from the library.

The list is at the bottom of the previous post.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Reading List

I read just eight books for the last read-a-thon in April; however, I need to be totally prepared for any mood. Don't I? So I have 2 paranormal romance, 3 mysteries, 1 thriller, 1 urban fantasy, 1 travel, 2 historical fiction, 6 general fiction, 1 essays, 2 memoir, 2 children's, 1 science fiction and 2 graphic novels.

There are more books coming from the library, but I wanted to get my book stack picture up today.

First stack:
Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
The Deep Blue Good-by by John D. MacDonald
Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris
1st to Die by James Patterson
One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Second stack:
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
At Large and At Small by Anne Fadiman
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Kidnapped by Robert Lois Stevenson

Third stack:
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson
The Honk & Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
Anita Blake: Laughing Corpse, Animator by Laurell K. Hamilton
Anita Blake: First Death by Laurell K. Hamilton

Still to be picked up at library:
God is an Iron and Other Stories by Spider Robinson
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold
Off the Wall at Callahan's by Spider Robinson
Variable Star by Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson
Very Hard Choices by Spider Robinson
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
The last hour from 11pm to midnight. Especially since I foolishly chose a horror story!

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff was a short, AWESOME read, especially for us book lovers.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Mini-Challenges that don't take up much time such as more personal question surveys.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I really liked having people comment on my posts and cheer me on.

5. How many books did you read?
Eight books with 1,736 pages

6. What were the names of the books you read?
Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury, 5 of 10 stars
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Maclachlan, 5 of 10 stars
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, 10 of 10 stars
Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Vaughn, 7 of 10 stars
The Phantom Tollbooth by Juster, 6 of 10 stars
Hot Six by Evanovich, 7 of 10 stars
And Then There Were None by Christie, 9 of 10 stars
The Mist by King, 6 of 10 stars

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Hands down, Charing Cross by Hanff. I laughed so much while reading it. I wasn't expecting it to be so funny.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
I should have picked an easier book to start with than Fahrenheit 451. It was a bit of a slog as it was rambling.

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'll be a reader and donor again. I'd like to create a mini-challenge but not run it.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Hour 17 - The End

Minutes Read Since Last Update: 96 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 218

Total Time Read: 12 hours, 45 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,736
Total Completed Books: 8

Going to bed now. Night night.

Hour 16

Current Book: The Mist by Stephen King
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 47 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 90

Total Time Read: 11 hours, 9 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,518
Total Completed Books: 7

Just started on The Mist so no commentary on it yet. Not quite as tired.

Hour 15

Current Book: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 45 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 94

Total Time Read: 10 hours, 22 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,428
Total Completed Books: 6

Fading fast. Not sure how much longer I'll be able to stay awake. At least for the next hour, hopefully. I'd like to break the 1,500 mark.

Hour 14

Current Book: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 42 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 78

Total Time Read: 9 hours, 37 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,334
Total Completed Books: 6
Challenges: A Nod to Non-fiction

Yes, I really, really, read the last chapter first in "whodunits." In this case, I've needed to read it a couple times to be really clear on who did what to who! A very enjoyable book. Now I know why she is a classic.

Hour 13

Current Book: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 40 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 85

Total Time Read: 8 hours, 55 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,256
Total Completed Books: 6

Some people will kill me for this, but I read the last chapter first in order to find out who did it. That way I can enjoy the book and pick out all the hints along the way.

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

2. How many books have you read so far?
Six

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Either Lucinda, Darkly by Sunny or White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
None other than letting my hubby know.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
No real interruptions.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
I thought I'd have more time reading, but blogged, tweeted and such more than I thought I would.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Mini-challenges that don't take up so much time. I'd rather be reading. I don't mind commenting or posting, but trying to figure out hard trivia questions or doing dioramas or pictures is a bit much.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Get more sleep the night before.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Oh yeah, been fighting the sleepies since about 2pm.

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?
Nothing that hasn't been mentioned before. The most important being to have some short, easy books for when you get tired and to not start off with something deep.

Hour 12

Current Book: Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 53 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 125

Total Time Read: 8 hours, 15 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,171
Total Completed Books: 5

Nearing the end of #6 of the Plum series. I love this brain candy.

Hour 11

Current Book: Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 42 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 100

Total Time Read: 7 hours, 22 minutes
Total Pages Read: 1,046
Total Completed Books: 5

Hot Six is lots of fun. Plum has managed to go through three cars already - her Honda got burnt to death, the "Rollswagon" got smashed and now she's driving her family's old Buick land yacht.

Hour 10

Current Book: Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 44 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 105

Total Time Read: 6 hours, 40 minutes
Total Pages Read: 946
Total Completed Books: 5

Miss Plum is up to her usual amusing antics. This will be an easy read.

Hour 9

Current Book: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 49 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 125

Total Time Read: 5 hours, 56 minutes
Total Pages Read: 841
Total Completed Books: 4

The second half is better than the first half, so I'm enjoying myself now; however, I think I'm going to need a nap. I'm feeling very sleepy. But I don't want to stop! I must read, Read, READ!

Hour 8

Current Book: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 46 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 141

Total Time Read: 5 hours, 7 minutes
Total Pages Read: 716
Total Completed Books: 4

Tollbooth is amusing but not too much substance so far. Won't be a favorite.

1. What is the name of your local library? What city is it located in?
Hennepin County Library - Westonka in Mound, MN

2. How often do you go to the library? If you're a regular, do the staff know you?
About once a week. I don't believe the staff know me very well.

3. Do you browse while you're there or just pick up items you have placed on reserve?
The vast majority of the time I'm just picking up books I've placed on reserved online.

4. What is your favorite thing about your local library?
They have a very large selection both locally and through inter-library loan that I can reserve online.

Hour 7

Current Book: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 40 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 112

Total Time Read: 4 hours, 21 minutes
Total Pages Read: 575
Total Competed Books: 3

Meatball sub from Subway and cream cheese puffs from Happy Garden make a yummy lunch. Still haven't showered. Should finish Kitty and get started on a new book by Hour 8.

Hour 6

Current Book: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 44 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 80

Total Time Read: 3 hours, 41 minutes
Total Pages Read: 463
Total Competed Books: 3

Kitty is okay, just an average read. Anything would be a let down after the fabulous Charing Cross though. Hubby has gone out to get lunch at Subway. I'm starving! And at some point, I should probably shower!

Hour 5

Current Book: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 32 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 50

Total Time Read: 2 hours, 57 minutes
Total Pages Read: 383
Total Competed Books: 3

Mini-Challenges Completed: YouTube Video Chain

Need to spend more time reading and less time blogging! Just 10 pages into the Kitty book.

Hour 4

Current Book: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Minutes Read Since Last Update: 50 minutes
Pages Read Since Last Update: 154

Total Time Read: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Total Pages Read: 333
Total Competed Books: 2

Participants I've visited: 3
Mini-Challenges Completed: Readers of the Hour

I ADORE Charing Cross Road. It's correspondence between a cantankerous yet funny woman writer in New York and an antique books dealer in England. Any book lover will enjoy this and I'll be putting it down as my favorite book this year!

Hour 3

Current Book: Sarah, Plain and Tall
Minutes Since Last Update: 51
Pages Read Since Last Update: 118

Total Time Read: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Total Pages: 179
Total Books: 1

Starting on book two. Since this is a YA, it should be an easier read.

Hour 2

Current Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Minutes Read: 44 minutes
Pages Read: 61
Challenges: Introduction Meme

I'm not impressed with Fahrenheit. I'll complete it but I don't think it was a good book to start with. It lacks structure and is rather confusing. It's a hard one to concentrate on this early in the morning.

Hour 1

I'm starting with Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, 179 pages.

*****

Where are you reading from today?
I'm reading from my comfy couch at home.

3 facts about me …
I read 200 books last year.
My favorite genre is fantasy.
I used to collect bookmarks and have several hundred.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
I have eighteen books to choose from!

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)?
I'd like to get at minimum fourteen hours of reading completed.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Win a cross-stitched piece!

Guess how many books I'll read for the Dewey 24-Hour Read-a-Thon!

I'll be reading from 7am to approximately 9pm tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th.

The first person to post the correct number of books I've read will win a mini-cross-stitched piece on a theme of their choice.

Please place your guess in the comments.

Here are some examples of my work: