Read-a-Thon: Book 3 finished

April 10, 2011 Unruly Reader

It’s Hour 18!

It’s been a good little stretch here. I finished Rawhide Down by Del Quentin Wilber, which I liked even more than I thought I might.

And I ate a beautiful cupcake that a friend kindly gave me earlier in the day. A sprinkly cupcake is what a person needs around midnight if she plans to keep reading through the night.

I’ve just started Book 4: Goody Hall by Natalie Babbitt. It’s a children’s book, by the author of one of my all-time favorite books. Babbitt is one of the authors I designated for the “I Want More” reading challenge.

I continue to read in the kitchen. And the clock is ticking all super-loud. And it feels like I’m the only awake thing in the entire town.

Read-a-Thon: 3rd book in progress

2 Comments April 10, 2011 Unruly Reader

This is a Read-a-Thon record for me: I’ve started 3 books and stuck with each one of them. Usually by books 2 & 3, I’m getting all itchy and irritable and am impossible to satisfy.

Either I’m having good luck or I’m getting better at choosing books for myself. (My money’s on: luck.)

I’m a little over halfway done with Rawhide Down, which I’ve interrupted to listen to the NPR story again (linked from previous post) and to watch footage on YouTube of the actual assassination attempt (which sounds ghoulish, but really is not intended in that spirit).

What else I’ve been doing: earlier, ate hummus and pita; then ate some pizza (that little beauty above) and watched Who Do You Think You Are?; visited the Read-a-Thon mothership; did a mini-challenge; and popped around to some blogs

Where I’ve been reading: still in the kitchen. I love the kitchen. But I’ve got a new chair in here, and it’s so comfy I might keep it here forever.

How long I’ve been reading: 9.25 hours (This implies I’ve been goofing around rather a lot. I’ll

simply refrain from comment.)

How many books I’ve finished reading: 2

How many pages I’ve read: 751

The good thing (though perhaps I’m being tricked) is that I’m feeling more awake now than I did mid-day. Which is weird. Probably will end up slumped over the kitchen table and will wake up with the mother of all neck cramps.

But not before eating a fancy cupcake. I’ll stay awake for that.

Read-a-Thon: Hour 12 and Book 2

1 Comment April 9, 2011 Unruly Reader

It’s Hour 12, and I’ve just finished book 2: Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella. It was a weirder book than I’d anticipated, and I liked it plenty. It reminded me, in a way, of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

I’m just now starting Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan by Del Quentin Wilber, a book I heard about it on NPR.

I’m all excited to be returning to nonfiction.

Since the last update, I visited a cafe, ate a muffin, drank some coffee, and drank some water. I’m about to have a snack, and then I’m diving into the Reagan book.

Read-a-Thon — Mid-Event Survey

1 Comment April 9, 2011 Unruly Reader

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?

Just started Rawhide Down by Del Quentin Wilber

2. How many books have you read so far?

Only 2

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

Rawhide Down (I’ve been saving it!)

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

Yes — did all my usual Saturday errands earlier in the week; it was a bit wild

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

I love the “interruptions” I’ve had! A friend popped over briefly, and and I went to a cafe.

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

For the first time, I’m really taking it easy, which I’m liking a lot.

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

Nope

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

No changes

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Yes. It’s ridiculous.

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?

Probably everyone else already does this, but… just have fun!

Read-a-Thon: 1st book finally

April 9, 2011 Unruly Reader

Since I’ve been savoring it, I just now finished my first book of the Read-a-Thon: Packing for Mars by Mary Roach.

Amazingly wonderful book, which made me laugh out loud at least 3 times. Plus it was filled with some of my favorite guys (Collins, Glenn, Lovell). I’ll write all about it later.

Since I last wrote, I ate the official food of the Read-a-Thon: quinoa salad. It’s been my consistent Read-a-Thon staple. I’m now fortified for endless hours of reading. And eating.

Next I’m starting Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. This bad, bad Iowan has never read this stuff before (nor have I seen Field of Dreams), but that’s about to change.

Speaking of Iowa — When my sister and a friend both mentioned the baby eagles in Decorah (IOWA!) today, I ended up over at the Nest Cam site checking out those little buggers. I love how bald eagles (the grown-up ones) always look so darn honked off. Also: grateful the turkey’s not our national bird.

Hour 4 — Snacking already

3 Comments April 9, 2011 Unruly Reader

Cadbury eggs are the best food on earth and happily occur during spring Read-a-Thon season.

Yes, I’m carrying on my Read-a-Thon tradition of Eating Like a Horse Whilst Sitting on My Bum All the Livelong Day.

It’s morning in America, and I’m eating the junkiest of junk food.

I was weirdly sleepy during Hour 3 (in spite of the excellent book), so I figured a good sugar high/sugar low would kickstart my system!

Since I am loving Packing for Mars, I am not even trying to read fast. I’m just reading all normal-like and therefore am only on page 168.

Reading spots thus far: at the kitchen table; in the very cute little slouchy chair

Have been popping around to a few blogs, and now am returning to the reading…

Hello, Read-a-Thon!

5 Comments April 9, 2011 Unruly Reader

Good morning, Read-a-Thon!

This lazy bum’s been reading only for 1/2 hour so far, but here I am , after quite an obstacle course of a week.

So today I’m just going to relax and read.

Over at Read-a-Thon HQ, there’s a meme happening, and here’s how it goes:

1) Where are you reading from today?My home in the American Midwest
2) Three random facts about me…
– I am addicted to Us Weekly. (This week’s issue has not arrived yet, so twitching has commenced.)- I got a new glasses prescription this week, so either I’m going to be supercharged while reading today or will suffer eyestrain like never before.- I love tote bags. It’s almost a problem. 3) How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?10 (with about 20 others as back-ups)
4) 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 plan to read 4 books today/tonight. That’s it! 5) If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?Read short-ish books! Way more satisfying on Read-a-Thon day.

My first book today is Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach. I’m on page 33, and I’m completely in love with this book. Am almost regretting having chosen it for book 1 of the day, since now the bar has been set rather high.

Have eaten the breakfast of champions (oatmeal!) and drunk the first cup of coffee.

Back to my book… very happily back to my book…

Read-a-Thon: One Week Away!

4 Comments April 3, 2011 Unruly Reader

The 24-Hour Read-a-Thon is one week from today, and that means frantic and thrilling preparations are being made in Casa Unruly.

Books: selected (that’s them over there on the left)

Groceries: purchased

Cooking: scheduled

Family and friends: notifications (“Watch out! Next Saturday I’m reading all day and all night and will be acting weird”) underway

Getting all wiggly about the Read-a-Thon

2 Comments March 5, 2011 Unruly Reader

OK, guys, I’m excited about this.

The Read-a-Thon approacheth, and lots of us are going to be reading till our eyeballs dry out.

What, really, (REALLY?) could be better?

Since I love books and I love lists and I love organizing, I already have the beginnings of a reading list.

But I’m not telling about it yet.

Later.

I know. The suspense is maddening.

Here’s what to do in the meantime:

Start your own reading list, block off Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 (recovery day — let’s be honest about this — The Day After ain’t gonna be no fount of productivity), and pop on over to the Read-a-Thon mother ship to sign up.

Then go bleat about it on your blog. I tell you, it’s refreshing.