9:17 a.m. Welcome to my 24-hour read-a-thon post! This is where I’ll update my progress throughout the day. Alas, I’m off to a bad start because I overslept and wasn’t able to start at 8:00 a.m.! And now I have to go run some errands…but I will be reading later today, I promise! 🙂 In the meantime, here’s the Introductory Questionnaire:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? — Washington, D.C. metro area
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? — I don’t have an official “stack” — I tend to read whatever strikes my fancy — but I’m definitely excited about reading A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess!
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? — Yesterday I stocked up on caffeinated beverages, veggies and hummus, and chocolate-covered peanuts. But I’m still looking forward to my bag of Smartfood the most! 🙂
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! — I took piano lessons from 2nd grade all the way through college. As a result, I always keep my fingernails super-short; if they were too long, my teacher would make me cut them!
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? — I think this year I won’t keep strict track of how many hours/pages I read. I’ll just go with the flow, read as much as I can, and hopefully spend some more time visiting other people’s blogs!
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12:58 p.m. Well, I finally sat down and read for a little while, and I finished Marie Brennan’s A Natural History of Dragons. Now it’s time for some mini-challenges! First up is Book Spine Poetry, and here is my poem:
In case you can’t read it: “Three men in a boat / a midsummer tempest / something rising (light and swift) / the farthest shore / a beautiful blue death.” Not very grammatically correct, but there you go. 🙂
Then there’s Book Appetit, which asks readers to create a menu based on books they’ve read or are currently reading. My menu for A Natural History of Dragons would probably involve genteel 19th-century food such as cucumber sandwiches (with crusts cut off, of course) and tea. Soft harpsichord and string quartet music would play in the background; but because the heroine is a scientist and a bit of a rebel, I’d also sneak in some ’80s classics like “She Blinded Me with Science.” As for the book’s signature cocktail, all I know is that it would be called Dragon’s Breath, and it would definitely be tequila-based!
The Retitle a Book challenge is rather self-explanatory. 🙂 Based on this cover of A Natural History of Dragons…
…my new title would be something like A Sorcerer’s Guide to the Dismemberment of Magical Creatures. To me, it really looks like a Gray’s Anatomy for dragons!
And finally, here is my entry for the Book Puzzle challenge. Can you guess what book title these pictures represent?
The
of
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3:13 p.m. I’ve been slowly making my way through The Count of Monte Cristo for the past couple of months, so I’ve decided that every time I finish a book for this read-a-thon, I’ll read a few chapters of The Count. I’m really enjoying the book…it’s just intimidatingly large and heavy!
Anyway, here’s my response for the Best and Worst Covers challenge!
The one on the left is my favorite; I like the clean lines of the artwork and the drama of the red on the mostly gray cover. And the one on the right is the worst cover; can you say Photoshop amateur?
Next up, I’m starting A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess!
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6:32 p.m. About halfway through A Girl Like You and enjoying it immensely. I went outside to read for a bit, since it’s so lovely out. Fresh air = good and important. I’m also debating dinner right now…should I order pizza or stick with what I have in the house? (OK, I know the correct answer to that. But I’ll probably order the pizza anyway.)
Also, here is my entry for the Picture it! challenge:
It is my couch, where I’ve been reading for most of the day (with occasional detours to my bed, plus my one foray outside). The book is nestled into the left corner. You can also see a bit of my “The Importance of Being Earnest” movie poster in the top left corner. (Why yes, that is how I chose to decorate my living room. Why do you ask?)
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9:30 p.m. Okay, I love this Cooking the Books challenge! You take a well-known book title and twist it so that it sounds like a cookbook, then write a brief synopsis. Here’s my effort:
The Bun Also Rises — If you’re feeling exhausted, like you’ve just been through a war, this cookbook is for you! Vent your frustration by learning to bake the perfect pastries, cakes, and loaves of bread. These light, buoyant delicacies are sure to lift your spirits! Traditional Spanish recipes are prominently featured.
I know it’s not polite to laugh at your own jokes, but seriously, that title makes me giggle so hard. In other news, I just finished A Girl Like You, which was a lovely, romantic, fun-filled read. Off to the next book!
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11:13 p.m. Today I am a very lucky girl — I’ve won TWO of the mini-challenges! I’m shocked but very thrilled and grateful!
Speaking of mini-challenges, here’s my entry for the Turn the Page challenge: “I would rather read than beg your hand to finish this set any day!” The bolded phrase is from page 32 of The Birth of Blue Satan by Patricia Wynn, which I’m about to start.
Starting to fade a bit…I am hoping to hold out until 2:00 a.m., but we’ll see how it goes!
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12:24 a.m. My Six Word Celebration: “Look forward to this every year!” It’s true, y’all — I put this on my calendar weeks in advance!
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1:32 a.m. Methinks this will be my last post of the night. I’ll probably continue to read for a little while longer, but I’m pretty sure I will be falling asleep soon! To those of you still reading, you are awesome! But for me, it’s definitely bedtime.
You Book Me All Night Long 
I overslept this morning too! I hope you have a great time read-a-thoning today. Happy reading!
Thanks, and same to you!
I started late as well. Enjoy your reading and the chocolate covered peanuts (yum!).
Thank you! Yes, I’m very excited about those chocolate-covered peanuts. 🙂 Happy reading!
The Merchant of Venice?
Yup! You officially win bragging rights. 🙂
It really did look like an anatomy book! Thank you for playing along 🙂
Also you were the winner of this challenge so if you want to email me with your book of choice and address I will get it ordered for you 🙂 CONGRATS!
YAY! That’s so awesome — thank you!!! I will email you shortly with my book choice and info.
LOVE that new book title! Happy readathon!
Haha, thanks! I feel most titles are improved when you add the word “dismemberment” to them.
I guess we ARE taking a similar approach. Although I have only read those 120 pages and will now continue with other reads 🙂
Have a great readathon and I’ll be checking in again! (if I don’t fall asleep).
I’m a roving reader too. Looks like a nice comfy couch though! 🙂 Enjoy all your books!
Thanks — happy reading!
It sounds like your read-a-thon is going well! You have a nice list of snacks and spent some time outside as well! Happy Reading!
–Janel
#TeamTiger
I’ve learned that moving around is very important for me. If I sit in one place for too long, I start feeling very sluggish and incapable of doing anything but watching TV.
The covers for Count of Monte Cristo are both equally different. I agree with you about the photoshop thing but the first cover looks like it was straight from Minecraft. Or maybe that’s just my unhealthy obsession with minecraft coming out.
You seem like you’re enjoying the book a thon. I hope you can finish with me too! (In a really preppy voice) You GO GIRL! (Or guy, but that would be so awkward, if you were…)
Stay strong; eyes open!
– Cheerleader Nova
I don’t actually know what Minecraft is, but you’re probably right! 🙂 The cover does look a bit video game-ish, especially in small form. I do think it looks nice when it’s full-sized, but oh well, everyone has different tastes! Thanks for the cheers…and no worries, I am female. 😉
Thanks for joining in the Book Puzzle mini-challenge – I’m super glad I could actually figure out your puzzle, I’m usually quite terrible. Keep up the reading!
Thanks for hosting the challenge!
I was just in D.C. earlier this month! The Newseum was so cool. I’m starting to fade too, but getting up and moving helped. Keep up the awesome reading!
I agree, the Newseum is pretty awesome! Did you see the room with all the Pulitzer-winning photos? They are amazing but very intense…I was basically openly weeping when I went there.
Hope you enjoyed your read-a-thon! I’m impressed by how long you made it! I’m definitely turning in before midnight.
Thanks! 🙂 I wish I could have stayed up for the whole 24 hours, but sleep is just too important to me!
I caved and went to bed too, but you do fantastic. Congrats! I hear you on Count of Monte Cristo. It’s a long, slow journey, but I ultimately loved it. I hope you do too!
I am really enjoying it! I’m trying to read a few chapters every day. It’s quite a page-turner considering how long it is!
Hi congratulations you are the winner of the Cooking the Books mini challenge. BTW I love the title The Bun Also Rises… can’t stop giggling as I read it!
Please let me know what prize you’d like and where to ship it, Thanks.
Yay, that’s amazing! Thank you!! I will send you my prize choice and other info soon.