My first experience with the read-a-thon was a lot of fun! I didn’t get near as much reading done as I’d hoped, but it was fun to try and wonderful to read books that I chose out of desire, and not books I need to get reviewed. (Not that the books on my review pile aren’t books I want to read, but sometimes it’s nice to just throw obligations to the wind!)
Here are my observations/things to keep in mind for next time:
~ It’s a good idea to start early if you want to get serious reading done, because once the read-a-thon officially starts, there are a lot of opportunities to socialize online. That’s fun, too, but I got the majority of my reading done the night before everyone else started.
~ I can get rid of the kids for a while, but can’t ignore my husband for 24 hours. The fact that Kevin likes to talk to me is a good thing, so there’s nothing about that fact that I would change.
~ I don’t read nearly as fast as I thought I did! My family always makes comments about how quickly I read, but I am astounded by the number of books and pages that some people are able to accomplish during the read-a-thon. We’re talking page counts in the thousands, over 15 books! That’s amazing.
~ The cheerleaders are terrific! It was so fun to see all those comments when I got online to post updates and check Twitter.
~ I’m past the “it’s fun to stay awake for 24 hours” stage of life. I could probably do it, but I was so exhausted on Saturday after only 5 hours of sleep, I don’t want to even try. Plus, I was a pretty cranky mommy by Saturday afternoon.
~ I couldn’t do mini-challenges. I just knew they would take too much time away from the reading.
Here are my final numbers:
Hours of actual reading/updating: about 15
Books finished: 2 – Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and The Watsons by Jane Austen
Books almost finished: 1 – Dear Fatty by Dawn French
Total pages: 641
Audiobooks: 4 discs of Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
So, that’s my wrap-up. I had a lot of fun. Would I do it again? Absolutely! But I’m thinking next time, I might have my own read-a-thon, and then be a cheerleader during the official one. That way I can get a lot of reading done, and not feel like I’m missing out on all the online socializing and mini-challenges. Do cheerleaders get to do the mini-challenges? Hmmm, I’ll have to find out.
If any of you are actually awake today and reading this, how was your read-a-thon experience?
And if you didn’t do the read-a-thon, tell me what you’re reading on this autumn Sunday.
Other bookish posts this week:
~ Recommendations from a non-blogger – Jonathan
~ Book Review: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
~ Found in the pages of Bookmarks Magazine, November/December issue
~ Book review: Fire by Kristin Cashore
~ Online Book Club: The Dog Who Came in From the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith
You did great! I’m way past the wanting to stay up all night phase too.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Permission Slips =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Thanks, Kathy.
Twitter: Trish422
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Great job at the readathon! I was really surprised and excited by all of the socializing opportunities as well.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..13 Days of Halloween: Reading Scary =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Trisha – it was a lot of fun to get to know some of the other participants.
I am so glad you had fun. I too learned pretty quickly that I am a slow reader. This time around I spent more time reading and less time online because it did seem to get away from the last time. I am awake but didn’t get that way until 1p. I had a lot of fun and all my reads were so good. I actually read today which I didn’t think I would want to but had to finish A Christmas Carol.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Book Psmith – I read a bit today – a bit of audiobook, too. Glad you had a good time!
You did such a great job! You’re right, it’s pretty hard not to want to socialize during the read-a-thon. Next time I’ll join you in starting early. I’m still recovering from the read-a-thon right now. I can’t believe I’m so tired!
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Read-a-thon Wrap-up Post =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Vasilly – I know – I got a full night of sleep last night, but still feel wiped out today. Hope your kiddos are feeling better!
I am glad you had such a good time with the read-a-thon, Carrie. Congratulations on completing it. It’s been interesting reading everyone’s wrap up posts. I admit to skipping most of the update posts yesterday which was a relief in itself since I wasn’t participating. Gave me a break too.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: A Reading Retrospective (October 2004) =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Wendy (LF) – I had to click “mark all read” on my Google Reader last night. There was no way I could read the 1,000+ posts that had accumulated. There were so many from the read-a-thon, and I was behind before it started! Oh, well – hopefully I didn’t miss anything too important.
Congratulations on finishing!! How do you feel today?
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Whew… =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Thanks, Michelle – It’s Monday morning now, and I’m wishing the weekend had an extra day in it!
Twitter: florinda_3rs
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I feel like I missed a lot of socializing during the Readathon, but I got a pretty good amount of reading done! I think you have a good idea about doing the reading outside of the “official” ‘thon hours, so then you have more time to visit, cheerlead, and do the mini-challenges (I totally missed those).
I also found that I’m not as fast a reader as I’d like to be (or used to be!). And I know what you mean about not being able to ignore your husband for 24 hours
. Mine took the kids out of the house for most of the day, and that helped, but still…disrupting the family routine was probably my least favorite thing about the ‘thon.
.-= Florinda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon #4: Wrapping Up the Read-a-thon, and other Bookkeeping stuff =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Florinda – I think it would be really fun to go to a hotel for the readathon – if we were rich, of course.
Twitter: msbookish
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You did a wonderful job! This was my first year participating, too, but I didn’t dare sign up as a reader – I know myself, and it would be far too stressful for me! Cheerleading was so much fun – I had a blast. I like your idea of doing your own unofficial readathon first, and then cheering during the official time.
.-= Belle´s last blog ..[TSS] International Book Giveaways, Readathon and NaNoWriMo =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Belle – I’m thinking I may treat myself to more guilt-free reading time on regular weekends. Not non-stop like the read-a-thon, but for some reason I feel guilty for just sitting and reading for hours on end. I need to give myself a chance to do that more often, I think. After NaNoWriMo, of course!
I think you did a great job with the readathon! I can sympathize with the people talking to you thing–that’s why I didn’t get any reading done at work. But what are you going to do, say, “Please don’t talk to me?” (All right, it was tempting, but I didn’t do it ~_^).
I don’t know how some people read so many books! I’m totally jealous, though.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Readathon Wrap-Up =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Tasha – I know – I wish I could read that fast, too!
I think you did awesome (I stopped comparing myself to the speed readers…and I’m really happy if I finish 2-3 books during the read-a-thon!). I remember feeling so overwhelmed my first time doing this event…but it becomes all about balance, I think. I love the mini challenges, but I don’t try to do them all. Glad you had fun…hope you’ll play again next time!
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday – October 26, 2009 =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Wendy – glad to know I’m not the only slow reader!
I did have fun, and will definitely participate again. Have a great Monday!
Starting early is a good idea. I really tried to limit my blogging during the read-a-thon because i didn’t want to take away from my reading. And when I did blog, it was for about 5-10 minutes at a time. I didn’t participate in any mini challenges either.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Stephanie – I knew it was going to be a temptation for me going in – especially Twitter. I love Twitter, but have to be careful it doesn’t become a time vacuum!
I think we came to the same conclusions. I’m not the 24 hour girl either, I could barely do it in college now that its 15 years later the chances are even more minute. Like you, I’m not a fast reader and I was pretty excited that I read three books in the 15 hours I was able to work through.
Congratulations on a great read-a-thon!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Laura Kasischke: In A Perfect World =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Michelle – college was that long ago for me, too! I got along with very little sleep then, as I did when the kids were a lot younger, but I hate to do it anymore. I like my sleep!
Congratulations! I hope to be able to do it someday, but it is already too easy to be mean Mommie with teenagers . . .
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Recommended Reading for Halloween =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Kim – I can see that – my daughter turns 13 in December.