Gearing up for the October 2017 Read-A-Thon!

It's been a while since I've asked for pledges during the readathon, but I thought I'd go for it again this year!

I chose two fantastic organizations -- International Rescue Committee and BookAid International.  You could choose to split your pledge between the two, or to send the entire amount to the one that speaks to you most!

Some pledge options:  

* pledge by minutes or hours read (e.g. a nickel for each minute read)
* pledge by books read (e.g. $10 for each book completed during the challenge)
* pledge by pages read (e.g. a dime for each page read)

You can make a pledge for Kieran's reading, my reading, or both of us.

Let me know if you are in!!

Closing survey -- April 2017!

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
I guess hour 20 is when I packed it in and headed to bed because I was so sleepy.  I wonder what would have happened if I had tried some more caffeine.....

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a reader engaged for next year?
Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic was so much fun.  It is heavily illustrated and the final copy -- which comes out in October, just in time for the next read-a-thon -- will be in full color. Shannon Hale's The Actor and the Housewife would be another good one.  And Agatha Christie is always a good bet.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season?
Hmmm....  For myself, I will have to think about the October read-a-thon...  My daughter and my partner's youngest will be with their other parent, which instantly makes it a different kind of read-a-thon.  We'll see if my partner participates in October, or if I have my own little reading retreat!
 
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Making sure people knew ahead of time that the TV was inaccessible for the duration.

5. How many books did you read?
Three, with a solid start on a fourth.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the heavily illustrated edition)
Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar 
Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham
200/451 pages of Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore - out in September!

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Gosh.  They were all pretty different from each other.  I enjoyed my H.P. re-read, but I'm definitely glad that I read all of them.

Mid-event Survey!

 

1. What are you reading right now?

Timeless:Diego & the Rangers of the Vastlantic

2. How many books have you read so far?

3

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

Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore is up next for me!

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

With two college freshmen, a 15 year old, and a 13 year old in the house, lots of little interruptions, but I've been wearing earplugs during the sprints and rolling with whatever happens the rest of the time (you know, like long long conversations about what light saber to purchase).

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

hmmmm .....  I'm not sure.  I'm pleased with what I've been reading.  Maybe I'm mildly surprised at how much my partner has read -- he's on his 3rd book, and I'm not sure exactly but I think the 13 year old is on book 8 or 9. 

Opening survey

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Lakewood, CO

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
hmmmm....  good question...   Maybe The Downward Spiral

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
mmm....  Maybe the brie and crackers


4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I'm a 41 year old bookseller with a 13 year old daughter.  I live with my partner and his two sons.  I'm happy it snowed last night -- good read-a-thon weather!

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?
I'm going to avoid family crises.  :)

April 2017 readathon stack & a pledge opportunity for you!

 

Hooray!  So excited for Dewey's Read-a-thon starting tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. MST.  My stack is even more ridiculous than usual because.....  Actually, there's no good reason, it just is.  I've got two that are sort of re-reads (the Harry Potters, though I haven't read the illustrated editions yet), some library books, and some Advance Readers' Copies that aren't yet published.  Graphic novels, chapter books, YA, and adult.  So. Much. Fun.  

In the past, I've asked for pledges.  I've left it a bit late this time, but I think I'm still going to offer the option, just in case anyone is interested.  (Hopefully I'll be more on the ball for October!)

All pledges will go to the International Rescue Committee and can be donated directly.  I think it's a fabulous organization and so important.

Some possible pledge options:

* pledge by minutes or hours read (e.g. a nickel for each minute read)
* pledge by books read (e.g. $10 for each book completed during the challenge)
* pledge by pages read (e.g. a dime for each page read)

End of Event Survey!

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  At the end of Hour 16, we had a family issue come up that took me away from the readathon until halfway through Hour 24.  I was disappointed to lose so much time, and to not be able to start the illustrated Sorcerer's Stone, but glad I could join back in at the end and glad for the amazing first 16 hours!
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I read the second book in Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series.  If you are open to children's books, I think any of his are perfect for a readathon.  Agatha Christie's murder mysteries would be great as well.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season?  Nope.  As always, so impressed by this community!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? Everything.
5. How many books did you read? Three
6. What were the names of the books you read? Magnus Chase & the Gods of Asgard: Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan, The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue, and Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Gosh, I really enjoyed them all, in quite different ways.
8. Which did you enjoy least? See above.  :)
9. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Of course I'll participate again!   Next time I may try to collect pledges, something I've done in the past but skipped this time, partially because my 12 year old daughter wasn't with me to participate.

Mid-event survey!

1. What are you reading right now?

Just Mercy:  A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

2. How many books have you read so far?
Two -- The Hammer of Thor and The Lotterys Plus One

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
I'm really enjoying Just Mercy, but of course non-fiction usually is a slower read than fiction.  Hoping to also dive into the illustrated Sorcerer's Stone.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Almost entirely interruptions I wanted, just pleasant little additions to my day.  It helps that I've been talking about the read-a-thon for weeks, so lots of people know I'm occupied.  :)

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
Hm...  Not much has surprised me.  I didn't know how much I would enjoy Just Mercy & The Lotterys Plus and I didn't realize that all of my first three books were going to lend such a strong liberal hippie theme to my read-a-thonl


More about Dewey's:  http://www.24hourreadathon.com/