Time for the 24-Hour Read-a-thon! (Update: 7:30 pm PST)
Posted By CarrieK on October 24, 2009
Tonight’s the night! I’m starting my read-a-thon early – sometime this evening – because all four kids have been invited to sleepovers and I will be kid-less. My husband is happy to have a guilt-free evening of playing Call of Duty with his online friends, so I will have lots of alone time to read, tweet, listen to audiobooks, update, and read some more.
Instead of doing update posts every hour that would flood feed readers and possibly annoy any readers who couldn’t care less about how many pages I’ve read, I’m going to update all of my progress on this post, and then do one wrap-up post before I crash.
The boys and I are headed to Michelle’s house in a couple hours for a play date, after dropping Natalie off at her friend’s house, and then I’ll leave the boys at Michelle’s around 5, pick up dinner at Subway and head home to start reading. Around 7:30, I need to go workout at the gym, then back home to stay up as long as I can. Here’s where I stand on in-progress books:
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – on page 64 of 328
Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors – on page 23 of 419 (I may or may not pick this one up during the read-a-thon; it wasn’t on my pile, but it was calling to me from the stack beside my bed last night.)
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich on audio – finished 1 disc of 7 (I’ll be listening to audio when at the gym and doing anything else that prohibits holding a book.)
I’ll update sometime this evening – probably when I get back from the gym. Happy reading, everyone!
Update: 8:25 pm PST
I officially started my read-a-thon at 6:15 pm. Here’s my progress so far:
~ 48 pages of Dear Fatty by Dawn French – perfect first book to pick up – it’s as hilarious and outrageous as she is!
~ finished disc 2 of Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich – this while working out at the gym, where I discovered that people on the other machines will look at you very strangely if you let out a spontaneous snort/laugh over the way Lula and Tank got “engaged.”
I love working out on Friday nights – it completely wakes me up. And I have some real coffee (I usually drink decaf or half-caf) for later when I start to droop – just one cup should be enough to keep me up for a few hours. Anyone else starting their read-a-thon tonight?
Update: 11:00 pm PST
Progress since last update:
~ 37 more pages of Dear Fatty (on page 75)
~ 92 more pages of Wicked Lovely (on page 156)
~ finished disc 3 of Fearless Fourteen
Having a cup of coffee and 100-calorie pack chocolate-covered pretzels – two packs, in fact. (Ssssh, don’t tell my trainer.)
Going to tweet a while – my husband’s watching a movie, and unless I want to go read in bed – which means I’ll fall asleep – I’ve got to read in here and try not to be distracted. Kind of hard when Antonio Banderas is on the screen. 
Update: 1:50 am PST
This will be my last update before heading to bed for some sleep – I can barely keep my eyes open, even with the coffee! Makes me feel old – I remember staying up all night easily in college! Of course, that was 16 years ago. Here’s my progress since the last update:
~ 38 more pages of Dear Fatty (on page 112)
~ 9 more pages of Wicked Lovely (on page 165)
~ finished The Watsons by Jane Austen (an unfinished novel – 65 pages)
I’m going to check e-mail and then get some sleep. See you in the morning!
Update: 11:40 am PST
Okay, so I didn’t go to bed after my last update at 1:50 am. I fully intended to, but I thought I’d read just one more chapter of Wicked Lovely. Before I knew it, it was 3:45 am and I had finished the book!
I then crashed, but couldn’t go right to sleep because I was wired on that one cup of coffee and my husband was snoring. I did finally fall asleep around 5 am. I slept until 10 or so, had breakfast and talked with Kevin (can’t completely ignore the fact that we’re alone in a kid-free house), and am just now getting back to my read-a-thon plans.
Progress since last update:
~ 8 more pages of Dear Fatty (on page 121)
~ finished Wicked Lovely – 163 more pages
Update: 2:30 pm PST
Okay, I’m finding I was much more productive last night. The read-a-thon hadn’t officially started, so there weren’t as many distractions online. Plus my husband has been in a talkative mood, my daughter has called about four times to make arrangements to sleep over one more night, and I talked to my mom on the phone. I have read some, though, and listened to some more Stephanie Plum on audiobook. Here’s my progress since my last update:
~ 48 more pages of Dear Fatty – on page 169
~ 10 pages of The Dead of Night by John Marsden
~ finished disc 4 of Fearless Fourteen
I have to go pick up my sons now, and run to the store, but will read when I get home. They’ll be happy – a DVD of Bakugan came from Netflix in the mail. This is one day I won’t feel guilty about propping them in front of the TV or video games.
My 24 hours is officially over in 3 hours and 45 minutes, but I may keep reading this evening, since so many other people just started this morning. We’ll see how tired I get – but I did get about 5 hours of sleep, so that’s not too bad.
Update: 7:30 pm PST
So, I dozed through the official end of my 24 hours, which was about an hour ago. I was reading, my eyes were tired, so thought I’d listen to my audiobook instead. Dozed off and had to rewind to see what I missed.
I didn’t get near as much reading done as I thought I would! I used to think I was a fast reader, but some of these people are amazing! Plus, I simply can’t stay up for 24 hours like I used to when I was younger. I needed to sleep, and my husband likes to talk, and I didn’t want to be totally rude.
Plus, when I picked up the kids at Michelle’s, I stayed and visited for an hour. Which was one hour less of reading, but that’s okay, because our chats are what help keep this stay-at-home, 24-7, homeschooling mom sane.
Anyway, my little nap on the couch refreshed me some, and I may do a bit more reading this evening before crashing all together. I won’t update this post again, but instead do a Sunday Salon post tomorrow that wraps up the whole read-a-thon.
Here’s my progress since the last update:
~ 52 more pages of Dear Fatty
~ finished disc 5 of Fearless Fourteen
So, I’m off to visit some other blogs, maybe enter a mini-challenge or two, tweet some, and then try to get a bit more reading in before I can’t stay awake any longer. Happy reading, everyone!
Don’t forget to visit the official read-a-thon site for a list of all the participants and mini-challenges!
Happy reading!
Vasilly´s last blog ..What My Children Are Reading, October 22, 2009
Good luck staying up tonight, and have fun reading
Alita´s last blog ..Calm before the storm
I love your idea about update posts. It is hard to wade through that many updates for readers. See you tomorrow!
Andi´s last blog ..Personally: Pregnancy Spoiledness
You’re starting early. I plan on waiting until tomorrow 8 am and I have no idea how it’ll go.
lilly´s last blog ..2-in-1: A Flickering Light & Always Watching
Have fun!
Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Angels
Enjoy your evening, Carrie!
JoAnn´s last blog ..Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Good idea about your updates. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’ve just barely got a plan as to what I’ll be reading. Now off to bed to get some much needed sleep. I’ll jump in with my first book tomorrow at 7 a.m.!! Have fun!!
Les in NE´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon
Traditional read-a-thon blessing:
May the bookshelf be there to greet you.
May all the books appeal.
May the fridge be full of tasty snacks;
the words fall soft upon your eyes and until the read-a-thon ends,
may you always hold a book in the palm of your hand.
softdrink´s last blog ..Rah-rah-sis-boom-bah
Sounds like fun! Enjoy your evening, & I’ll join you in the morning!
Becky @ One Literature Nut´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon Preparation Post
Yay!!
I’m an early starter too 
Maree´s last blog ..Readathon! Vlog!
Great strategy! Good luck with the reading!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..The Age of The Animal
I’ve started kind of unofficially — I’m trying to put more of a dent in Graceling (which was calling to me last night) before I start counting pages tomorrow. An almost 500-page book will look pretty daunting tomorrow, but not if I only need to read 200-300 pages of it.
Good luck with the challenge!
Ruth @ Bookish Ruth´s last blog ..24 Hour Read-a-Thon: Reading List
Yay! You’ve started! I’ve heard great things about Dear Fatty. Happy reading.
Vasilly´s last blog ..What My Children Are Reading, October 22, 2009
Looks like you have some good books on your list. Have a great time reading! I’ll start my reading in the morning.
Sharla´s last blog ..2009 Read-a-Thon Book Selections
Dear Fatty is a great readathon pick. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
I think I must be the only reader on the planet who hasn’t read a Janet Evanovich novel. I’ll have to pick one up on my next trip to the library.
Happy Reading!
Susan @ Reading Upside Down´s last blog ..Celebrity Chef Cookbooks
You clearly have done really well! And Susan- I haven’t read any Janet Evanovich, either.
Sweet dreams
Aarti´s last blog ..The Girl with Glass Feet
Great progress report, Carrie! You’re doing a wonderful job.
Belle´s last blog ..Go Readers Go!
May you wake up refreshed!
Lenore´s last blog ..Read-a-thon a Go! + Welcome Meme
Enjoy Wicked Lovely! Dear Fatty Sounds great.
Linda´s last blog ..
You’ve done great so far! I think I may have to head to bed myself soon. I hope you’re having a good rest and wake up later refreshed and ready to read!
tanabata´s last blog ..Read-a-thon: Fun with Titles
I loved WICKED LOVELY. Keep reading and have fun!!
Karin´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon – I’m A Cheerleader!
Good luck with the next few hours! You are doing great!!;)
Chantele´s last blog ..Mini Challenge!!
Janet Evanovich makes me smile. Good luck today!
MillyMarie´s last blog ..So It Begins. Happy Read-A-Thon!
You’re doing great! I still haven’t finished my first book yet, but hopefully I will soon. As always, happy reading!
Vasilly´s last blog ..Readathon: First update
Looks like you’re on a roll – keep it up! Congrats on finishing your first book (I’ve made it through one, too).
So glad you’re enjoying yourself!
Sent you an e-mail asking if the boys could stay later….We’re having fun, too!
You’re done with the first third of the read-a-thon!! I hope you’re still enjoying yourself! Keep it up!
Congrats on finishing WIcked Lovely-I just reread it last month and still love it.
Eva´s last blog ..Dewey’s Read-a-Thon: Hour 7
[...] participating in Dewey’s 24 Read-a-thon this weekend. You can read my updates here at Books and [...]
Traditional read-a-thon blessing:
May the bookshelf be there to greet you.
May all the books appeal.
May the fridge be full of tasty snacks;
the words fall soft upon your eyes and until the read-a-thon ends,
may you always hold a book in the palm of your hand.
Good luck today!
Congrats on getting so much reading done! You’re almost in the final stretch now
Alita´s last blog ..Mini Challenge and update #1
When I saw your blog name, I wondered if you might be reading movie w/subtitles as one of your books!
Enjoy your last few reads!
Edi´s last blog ..Challenge #4
I’m popping by again to offer some more cheering! Give me an R! Give me an E! Give me an A! Give me a D! What does that spell?! Read! Read! Read!
Almost finished! Congratulations! Enjoy these last few hours!
Michelle´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday – One Question
Great job! Glad you are having or had fun!
robin of my two blessings´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24 hour Read A Thon
Wow! You are a really organized reader. I am impressed how much reading you have been able to do and with four kids! Wow! I send you good well reading wishes from Miami, Florida…I am reader and mother, too…
Kiki´s last blog ..24 Hour Read-A-Thon-Hour 14
Famous Reader’s Toast
May you…
Always have books on your shelves,
Snack like there are no calories,
Blog as if you were Dooce,
Win copious challenges and drawings,
And read like it was the read-a-thon.
Now that it’s past midnight and our eyes are drooping lower, it’s time for us night owls to get our second wind! So here is a big HOOT from Alabama. Keep on Reading!!!! Just a few more hours to go!!!!
Go Reading,Go Reading,Go Reading!!!
Rebecca
the Transcendentalists team!
Well done on your readathon achievements!
Marg´s last blog ..Read-a-thon mini challenge
Great job on the read-a-thon! You rock!
Dreamybee´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-Thon is in progress!
Wow! You did absolutely fantastic! really great job staying up and doing a lot of reading. And thank you for having the time to visit my blog as well
lilly´s last blog ..Dewey’s 24-hour Read-A-Thon – End of Event meme
Congrats, you did great! I got a lot more reading done before the read-a-thon officially started too, but I still had a lot of fun, which is the most important thing really!
tanabata´s last blog ..Read-a-thon: Update (6) – And that’s a wrap!
I think you did really, really well! And you even started early – talk about a dedicated reader
Kathrin´s last blog ..Jay Asher: THIRTEEN REASONS WHY