Computer Antics

I got my computer back from the repair shop last Friday and eagerly wrote a long glowing post about my solitary read-a-thon. The computer froze again. It rejected all efforts made to revive it and back to the shop it went. All this with a laptop that is not yet six months old! Oy.

Anyway, I did enjoy my somewhat lonely read-a-thon experience. I can't wait to do it again in April and maybe next time I will actually be able to connect with others on-line. It's really difficult to stay awake with no outside support. The Great Dane was no help whatsoever, in fact, her excessively loud snoring made me think about sleep constantly. I also need better snacks. All the fruit was great until about 2a.m. when I was hit with an enormous chocolate craving. And no chocolate to be had anywhere...

I've been reading A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans and it's getting very, very creepy. I'll be sleeping with the lights on tonight!

Crushing Disappointment

During hour two of the long-anticipated Read-a-Thon my computer crashed and was unable to be revived. (No matter how many times I attempted CPR!) I continued on by myself with no on-line support. To say I was disappointed doesn't really describe the feeling...

I soldiered on by myself and managed to complete five books and remain awake until 3:50a.m. Here's what I completed:

• The Glen Rock Book of the Dead by Marion Winik 110 pgs.
• Epilogue by Anne Roiphe (started before r-a-t) 28 pgs.
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 290 pgs.
• What Now by Ann Patchett 97 pgs.
• Things I Learned about My Dad (in therapy 230 pgs.

Grand total : 769 pgs.

I was pretty proud of myself for taking on the challenge alone. It was surprisingly enjoyable just to give myself permission to do nothing but read for (most of ) 24 hours. I am looking forward to April with a great deal of anticipation! I'll post more about my solitary read-a-thon once the computer is back from the repair service. Thanks for all the supportive comments. It made me feel happy to see them today.

24 Hour Read-a-Thon Hour 1

Where are you reading from today? My couch, my bed, my bookroom, I intend to move around!

3 facts about me … 1. I had trouble sleeping last night because I was so excited about this. It's like Christmas morning when you were six! 2. I lack computer skills....this might be obvious. 3. I have a Great Dane who will be my reading companion today.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? Nine or ten of my own books, seven library books, 464 unread books on shelves all over the house.

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)? My only goal is to really, really enjoy this.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time? Not a veteran....this is my first time.

And Just When I Thought I Couldn't Be More Excited...

I won a box of ten spooky books from The Hidden Side of a Leaf!!!!! I've had several of these books on my wishlist including, Monsters and The Heretics's Daughter. I've been seeking out spooky books since reading Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House a few weeks ago. I can't wait to get my hands on this box! Wow! I am now officially overexcited.

Read-a-thon Books

I've been collecting and saving books for the Read-a-thon for a few weeks now. Here's the pile comprised of my own TBR books:

• A Midsummer Night's Dream- Shakespere ( book club selection for November)
• What Now? -Ann Patchett
• The Glen Rock Book of the Dead- Marion Winik
• Garden Spells- Sarah Addison Allen
• Bagthorpes Abroad- Helen Cresswell
• Things I Learned about my Dad (in therapy)- Heather B. Armstrong
• La Perdida- Jessica Abel
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie- Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
• The Shiniest Jewel- Mariam Henley
• The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted- Elizabeth Berg
• Ballistics- Billy Collins

Here's the pile I borrowed from the library to have on hand:

• The Girl Who Stopped Swimming- Joshilyn Jackson
• How I Live Now- Meg Rosoff
• The Sugar Queen- Sarah Addison Allen
• A Good and Happy Child- Justin Evans
• My Stroke of Insight- Jill Bolte Taylor
• Goldengrove-Francine Prose

Does anyone have any ideas about where to start?

Of course, at last count on Library Thing, the TBR selections in my house number in the 400's. No, that's not a typo...I think I have plenty to choose from. I can't decide if I want to pick up a long book I'll likely get lost in, or dip in and out of several. I am absurdly excited about this whole read-a-thon thing! I can barely wait until morning to get started.

Read-a-thon!!!!!

One of my main motivations for starting a blog was so that I could become a joiner. I read about reading challenges and the Sunday Salon and other fascinating reading projects. I lurking on the sidelines watching and dreaming...and then came the read-a-thon, hosted by Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf. Reading the posts from the last two Read-a-thons I was seized with envy. Really, what a wonderful idea! An excuse to devote twenty-four hours to nothing but reading and writing about reading. Count me in! And thus, this blog was born.

I could not be more excited about my participation in this event. I've been creating a pile of books so that I will have many to choose from, thinking about the all important snacks and gently encouraging the boyfriend to find ways to amuse himself on Saturday, October 18th. From one former lurker, won't you consider joining us? Sign up at The Hidden Side of a Leaf. You know you want to.