So sad, my copy of The Clue in the Old Stagecoach is in bad shape. The binding is a mess and I was terrified I was going to lose the last 75 pages with each turn of the page. Also… gah, the girls dating different boys always throws me, does it throw you? Thankfully, Ned and gang showed up in the end. 😉
180 pages – good late readathon book.
Nancy Drew keeps me going #readathon Read More »
Ruined By Reading has been on our bookshelves for ages (it’s red… a note to myself for my From the Stacks by Color Challenge) and I decided it might be a nice book to read during the readathon. Since, it’s about books – and more importantly about reading them.
It’s a combination of literary theory and memoir and led me to wonder about my own reading habits – and to think of the books I loved and didn’t love, to remember books fondly or not so fondly.
How do you read? Why do you read? Are you doing it wrong? Are others doing it wrong? Is there a wrong way – or a right way?
Interesting stuff lurking here.
*119 pages*
Five Books Down #Readathon Read More »
Just finished The Pioneer Woman’s Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and it was definitely a fun choice for the readathon, I’m glad I waited til now to read it. Not that I didn’t already know much of the early story – or how it all turns out in the end, heh. It’s also kind of fun to hear Ree’s voice, literally, as you read.
But now I want cinnamon rolls.
*341 pages*
Black Heels to Tractor Wheels #Readathon Read More »
1. What are you reading right now? —- I’ve got about 50 pages before I finish Ree’s book, Black Heels & Tractor Wheels.
2. How many books have you read so far? — I’ve finished three.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? — This is a tough question since I haven’t decided what I’m reading next!
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? — Not special as in finding a baby sitter or taking a day off of work but just making the commitment to stay home and do nothing but read is pretty special around here.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? — Nope, Michelle-belle called once, but it was during a break anyway so it was great timing.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? — I’m always surprised by how hard it is. Even though I read a lot, something about knowing you’re going to do nothing but read all day makes it harder. More daunting. Still fun, though.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? — hmmm I like it the way it is, actually.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? — Next year I’m going to plan my books better. I pre-planned last year and didn’t do it this year. I’ll go back to planning for sure.
9. Are you getting tired yet? — I’ve been tired off and on. Right now… I’m good but I’ll probably be yawning again in an hour.
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? — Mixing up the types of books helps me. If I toss a graphic novel or childrens/YA book in between novels, or switch to non-fiction for awhile and then go back to novels, it really helps.
#Readathon Mini Challenge Survey Read More »
First, Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 – loved it. Loved it a lot more than the last Frankie Pickle I read. I especially loved Frankie’s thoughts on the hobby shop. Great fun for people who love hobby shops and anyone who has ever experienced a “Pinewood Derby”.
Next, Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs. It was cute, in places, but a little slow. I’d have probably liked it more if it was pure graphic novel. One problem – now I’m trying to decide whether it would be better to be a Ninja Queen or a Veterinarian.
*292 more pages down!
Two Cybils for #Readathon Read More »
Well that took a long time, didn’t it? Heh. The Raven’s Bride, 356 pages, and pretty interesting to read about Virginia Poe when we tend to hear so little. I cannot imagine what it was like to live with Edgar Allan Poe – or maybe I can now that I’ve read The Raven’s Bride.
Also interesting, the controversy surrounding this book – as pointed out by someone on BlogHer.com.
One book down #Readathon Read More »
I slept late so I’m starting a little later than some of the other readers, but that’s ok – I’ll finish strong! And, I’m playing catch up by jumping in and answering the questions in the first hour that I missed because I was sleeping. Heh.
1)Where are you reading from today?
– I’m reading from my bedroom. In Glenview, Il.
2)Three random facts about me…
– a) I don’t believe in random facts. Nothing is random. b) There are three prairie dogs sitting next to me, actually they are glaring at me because I am not releasing them from their cage or petting them or paying any attention to them. c) I just spilled coffee all over my desk. Gah.
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
– I don’t know, I didn’t count them. I just photographed them! Here’s that photo.
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 thought about making goals and decided I have enough of them in other areas of my life. So no. No goals.
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
-Last year was my first official year and I learned that it’s harder than I thought it would be. I read a lot, just in general, and didn’t expect to find it difficult. But it was. I found myself getting distracted. Getting up and surfing some readathon blogs helped. Yummy food also helps. I just had this breakfast of readathon champs: Two Bite Cinnamon Rolls, Cantaloupe, Coffee! Now I’m ready to read.
The Readathon Begins: My Books and Breakfast Read More »
It was awesome to meet Julie Des Jardins (Jory’s sister and Joy’s daughter) last year at BlogHer 09. I’d heard an awful lot about her and seen a lot of photos of her and her children. It was fun to take her photo with Mrs Potato Head. And it was interesting to hear her talk about her book, The Madame Curie Complex.
I’m not a science nerd but is that because when I was a kid, I was discouraged from pursuing math and science interests? Possible but as with any nature over nurture question, impossible to know for sure. I didn’t know exactly what Julie was going to write or who she’d include in her pages but any book that talks about invisible women is my kind of book.
When my signed review copy arrived (thanks Julie!) I was thrilled by the names of the women I saw inside. I have always been interested in Marie Curie, haven’t we all? I’m a huge Roslind Franklin fan, (Watson, Crick and Wilkins… ugh, don’t even get me started… I think I almost drove off of the road the day I discovered The Rosalind Franklin College right next to the Great Lakes Naval Station.) And, I remember wanting to do a report about Lillian Gilbreth way back when and not being able to find enough information, all I could find was stuff about Frank.
I was really looking forward to reading it but work and kids and life in general kept me from diving in. (Imagine Lillian Gilbreth or Marie Curie making those kinds of excuses…hah.) I decided the Readathon would be the perfect time to sit down with it but I planned poorly and didn’t start it until very late in the Readathon day. I struggled with the intro, though it started beautifully, and ended up putting it down in favor of Nancy Drew – hoping to revitalize a bit. It worked because when I picked it back up, I was hooked – exhausted but hooked.
We’ve all heard the reasons why women didn’t enter (or achieve) in math and science, Julie’s book digs in differently. As she placed these women into historical context, right next to their male counterparts, I found myself thinking about the stories I already knew – in a different way.
The pieces about Gilbreth, the Manhattan project, and the “computers” in Astronomy were fascinating – I suspect I’ll go back and re-read those sections again. I’ve also never been very interested in the Trimates – the primate studies of Fossey, Galdikas and Goodall- but after reading about them in The Madame Curie Complex, I’ve begun to regret that. I might just end up with a book or two about Primatology – particularly Galdikas and Fossey. Thanks Julie!
The Madame Curie Complex Read More »
The last book I finished for the Dewey Readathon was The Clue in the Diary. The most interesting thing(s) about this one were related to Ned. He was “introduced” in this book. He and Nancy met when Foxy Felix’s house blew up and from that moment on Ned became a wee bit stalkerish – he just kept turning up. Someone should have warned her about that boy, no matter how cute or smart he might be. An oddity though is that in a book I read, earlier in the series, Helen teased Nancy about Ned… (maybe in the Mystery at Lilac Inn?), but how would that be possible if Nancy hadn’t met him yet? Oops.
The Clue in the Diary Read More »
Alright, I’m calling it done. Here’s how I did….
17 hours.
2 Nancy Drews
1 Graphic Novel
1 Poetry
2 Non-fiction
Total pages 1467