Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon October 2014

    It’s time!!! Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon is here and the countdown to begin is in approximately one hour. My stack is pictured above. There is still time to sign up so don’t miss out. This year we have a record breaking 900 readers from all over the world. It’s truly amazing to see how far this event has come in our book blogging community. I have been participating in this event since 2010 and helping to co-host since 2012…even if those short years this event has grown to truly unbelievable proportions. In April due to the needs of my family I was both unable to participate or co-host and it was really hard for me. All day it felt like something was missing. It was as if I was missing a family reunion. So let’s get together, read and have a fabulous next 24 hours together. Let’s make each and every page count. Make sure and join me for hours 15, 16 & 17 (10pm-1am EST) as those will be my co-hosting hours and I have some fun stuff in store. Keep in touch & have a great readathon!! Follow me @stiletostrytime  And away we go……

Readathon Log

Hours Read: 13.25

Pages Read: 615

Books Completed: 1

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Currently Reading:

The Paradise by Emile Zola

Mini-Challenges Completed: 5

Hours Hosted: 3

Snacks Consumed: Too Guilty to List Them At This Point

Opening Meme

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

Saint Augustine Beach , FL

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld. And today is feeling like a Zola day so I may throw some Emile Zola in.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Trader Joe’s Cowgirl Bark

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I love fresh flowers, tea and my sweet son more than life itself.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?

Pace myself and not over-do my eyes before I host tonight. In the past I have tried strained my eyes.

Mid-Event Survey
1. What are you reading right now?

Can you believe I am still on my first book? I cannot put down Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld.
2. How many books have you read so far?

Almost 1!
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I have not decided yet but it is between a horror title and a classic re-read.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Quite a few but I have still managed to stay pretty focused…you know for a Mommy!
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

I am shocked I am staying with one book. This has never happened in 4 years of readathons.

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon: April 2013

Today I must admit I am not feeling so hot at all. If it were any other Saturday I would probably crawl up in bed with a book and alternate with reading and naps….but it’s not a day that I will allow anything to keep me down so I will do a variation on the nap/reading plan. In case you haven’t heard… It’s Dewey Day!  Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon is under way. It’s kind of like Christmas for book bloggers and readers alike. Except we’re lucky because it comes twice a year in both April and October. Yep, It’s that time of year again readers…if you have followed Stiletto Storytime over the years at all you know this is one of my favorite events. This is my seventh Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I have worn many hats for this event over the years. I have been a reader, a cheerleader and a co-host long into the night…and this year I am honored to be co-hosting again. So if you’re reading this year…you’ll see me Hour 13-16. Make sure to say Hi! Below is my stack…something old, something new…but I always seem to wander to my shelves and library pile during this event so no doubt there will be some changes. So buckle up…and let’s get this show on the road. If you are stopping by please say hello and share what you’re reading!

Introduction Questions

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Atlanta, Georgia 2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? All of them to be honest…but really I am still waiting for the perfect one to grab me! 3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Almond M & M’s 4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I’m a Mommy to the cutest four year old you’ll ever meet. 5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? Since I have the honor of co-hosting this year I am kind of taking it easy and just doing some relaxing reading until my hours come up. Then I will focus on making hours 13-16 fun for all and then dive back into the books!

My Read-a-thon Results

Total # of Books Read:  2.75

# of Pages Read:  981

#of Hours Read: 12.5

# of Hours Co-Hosted: 4

# of Mini-Challenges Completed: 12

I began this Read-a-thon by finishing up a book for the Spring Into Horror Read-a-thon which is running simultaneously. I have just finished Little Star by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist. Recently just finished Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza. Two down…on to the next. I’d say it’s time for the comfort that comes with re-reading a classic and personal favorite. I don’t have the copy of Rebecca that is featured below but Oh…how I wish I did.

Currently Reading

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon: October 2012

  

It’s that time of year again readers…if you have followed Stiletto Storytime over the years at all you know this is one of my favorite events that takes place every year in April and October. This is my sixth Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I have worn many hats for this event. I have been a reader, a cheerleader and a co-host long into the night in April. Every experience has been special and this year I am looking forward to being simply a reader again and really focusing on the reading. So what am I reading?

                 

This year I am kind of pushing the boundaries by choosing two very long books and one shorter YA. Often it’s best to choose multiple shorter titles to keep the momentum going but this year I simply had to re-read Justin Cronin’s The Passage so I could dive into The Twelve. I also chose Beta  by Rachel Cohn as my go to break book if needed since the first two books are 500-700 pages respectfully. But I am so excited to dig in and hopefully even get some reviewing and blogging done as well.

So won’t you join me? There’s still time sign up and get involved. Join hundreds of readers from all over the world dedicated to reading together for an entire 24 hours. You can sign up here. Enjoy hourly updates, mini-challenges, giveaways and so much more. So come on be a part of literary greatness…join us. I will regularly update my progress on this same post so check back and see how things are going and share your experience. Happy Reading to All!

Read-a-thon Progress 

Current Book: The Passage by Justin Cronin

Books Completed: 0

Pages Read:601

Hours Reading: 8.5

Mini-Challenges Completed: 11

Introductory Questionnaire

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Atlanta, Georgia in the USA
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? The Twelve by Justin Cronin
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?  My sea salt bagel chips & chocolate covered almonds. Yum!
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I am the mother of an amazingly loving and intelligent three year son who just happens to have autism…we are fighting every day and winning!
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 have participated in six of these read-a-thons as a reader, cheerleader and co-host…excited this year to lay back and enjoy the ride while focusing on the reading!

Book Puzzle Mini-Challenge from One Librarian’s Book Reviews

                     

Can you guess the book title from the images above?

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon: April 2012

     It’s that time of year again dear readers. The Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon. One of my absolute favorite events of the “reading” year. This will be my fifth year participating in this event. I have been tapped to co-host for a few hours later this evening ( 9pm to 2am EST) so please come and visit and I also will be cheering through-out the day so my reading may have to be quite minimal. However I encourage you to check out the site and see what the event is all about….it’ still early in the game. You could still join. There’s always time to read!

Due to my heavier working this year in the behind the scenes operations I have chosen a much smaller selection of books than I might normally. Below is what I hope to read during this read-a-thon. I am also hoping to write two reviews as well. Kind of ambitious, there may be no sleep for me! Whatever your read-a-thon goal, I wish you happy reading!

Read-a-Thon Totals 

Currently Reading: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Books Finished: 1: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

Pages Read: 741

Hours Read: 8.5

Mini-Challenges Completed: 6

Co-Host Posts Written: 5 hours

Review Written: 1: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Snacks Consumed: Cinnamon Bread & Orange Juice, Turkey Sandwich & Arizona Green Tea, Petit Ecolier European Chocolate Biscuits

Introductory Questionnaire

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Atlanta, GA (USA)

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? “Lone Wolf” by Jodi Picoult. It has been on my shelf for awhile and I finally get to sit down and reading it rather than just glancing at it longingly while I review other books.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? My Simply Salt Pita Chips
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I’m a librarian turned SAHM.

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? This read-a-thon is definitely differently for me since it will be my first time co-hosting…wish me luck. As with every year I just try to have fun and roll with it! That’s what it’s supposed to be all about right?

Re-Reading Mini-Challenge

The Blue-Stocking Society wants to know what book I like to re-read. This is such an amazingly easy answer for me. Every year and when I am feeling down or sick I read Jane Eyre. I don’t know that I can fully describe why but there is a comfort there…a soothing peace I find when I re-read it. I know what will happen but it soothes me just the same. The relationship between Jane and Rochester both thrills and fulfills my reading imagination. I adore the book. I could never read it too much or even watch too many adaptations even for that matter. Other books I re-read are the works of Jane Austen and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier but neither not nearly as much as my Jane Eyre.

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

It’s that time of year again…the Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I truly look forward to this event when it comes around twice a year. It’s my time to tell my husband that he has kiddo responsibilities and to then hole myself up as much as possible with books and special snacks. This year has been an especially tough year and my reading and reviewing has really taken a hit so I am excited to be able to take a little “me” time for Read-a-thon. So…Ready…Set…Read.

Introduction Questions

1)Where are you reading from today? Atlanta, Georgia
2)Three random facts about me:

I am a librarian turned SAHM. My favorite author is Jane Austen. My favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 4-6

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 simply try to do the best I can with a toddler in the house. My husband really tries to give me time to read alone…I usually hole up in my bedroom for a few hours at a time of good “snuggly bed” reading. I have a pile of books picked out and will keep track of books read, pages read and titles finished on this post as the read-a-thon progresses.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

This is my fourth Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon. I would say just do the best you can. Don’t worry about doing too much or too little. Just do what you can and most importantly of all…enjoy the reading. That’s the point. Right?

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Jane Austen Made Me Do It
2. How many books have you read so far? 1
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

 Not sure..I am going to go through my stack and see what appeals to me and will keep me awake!
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

My husband takes over the parenting duties for our two year old son so I can participate in read-a-thon. Still had to do some light house tasks and a run to the store but it helps to have some time to myself to focus on just the read-a-thon.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Like I said some small errands..etc. But you just deal with them and jump right back in!
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

This is my fourth read-a-thon but I am really excited to see so many participants and cheerleaders this year!
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I think it’s great as is.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Hopefully next year I can plan a little better and have a free schedule to really devote the entire 24 hours with no interruptions (in a perfect world).
9. Are you getting tired yet? A bit.
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?

I think planning is key. Planning your time..your books…everything.

Re-Reading Mini-Challenge 

I have quite a few books that I re-read on a regular basis but the one I enjoy most would be my favorite book of all time Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It’s my feel good book which I know might seem kind of odd considering the subject matter. I usually return to it when I am sick or feeling under the weather emotionally. Something about it comforts me. Other books that I re-read on a regular basis are Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Pet Mini-Challenge

Zoe is a pretty laid back dog…so he really enjoys nothing more than cuddling up while I am reading…as long as he’s allowed a nice spot on the bed as you can see from the picture above.

Read-a-Thon Results

Currently Reading: Salt Bride by Lucinda Brant

Pages Read: 987

Reviews Written: 1

Mini-Challenges Participated In: 9

Books Completed: 3

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Jane Austen Made Me Do It Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress

Can You Survive: Jack London’s Call of the Wild Adapted by Ryan Jacobson

Dewey’s Read-A-Thon Mini-Challenge

Classic/Paranormal Tome Challenge

Welcome Dewey read-a-thon participants to Stiletto Storytime and a mini-challenge for this hour! You are all doing so well and indulging in some terrific books whether they be classics or paranormal or maybe even a combination of both. Recently we have seen an influx of books that bring together classical literature and something of the supernatural or otherworldly. SO… what better idea for a challenge than for you to come up with your own?

Quirk Classics has become well known for such titles as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Android Karenina and the newest soon to be released The Meowmorphosis. So what do you think their next classic mash up should be? Well…that is your challenge if you choose to accept it.

Tell us below in a comment: include your title and a brief description. Also leave an e-mail at which to contact you if you are our lucky winner. One winner will be chosen at random to receive a Quirk Classics prize pack that will include all three Pride and Prejudice and Zombies books, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Android Karenina and The Meowmorphosis.

The Meowmorphosis will be released May 10, 2011.

Good Luck and Happy Read-a-thon Reading from Stiletto Storytime & Quirk Classics.

And the twisted winner is…

Erin from Erin Reads.

If you want a nice chuckle here were a few of my personal favorite title entries:

Oliver Twisted: “Please, sir, I want some more brains.”

Gone with the Werewolves: “We all know Rhett Butler is a rogue. But did you know he’s also a werewolf?

Scarlett is about to find out…”

Ethan Frome Hell: “Ethan Frome is a tortured man but not why you think;

He’s actually part demon trying to redeem his dark past!”

Thanks to all who entered the mini-challenge and happy read-a-thon reading!

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

It’s that time again…Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-Thon has begun! This is truly one of my favorite reading events. This will be my third time participating in this read-a-thon and I am super excited this year to not only be cheering (in the last four hours of the event) but also to be hosting an awesome mini-challenge later in the event. You’ll have to check back for that but needless to say the prize pack donated from the fabulous Quirk Books is pretty fantastic!

So now on to the big question…what am I reading? Well…this read-a-thon I decided to take a little bit of a different approach than others in the past. Usually I take advantage of the read-a-thon to catch up on books I need to read for reviewing purposes but not this time. This time I decided to read what I want to read no matter what it is…these are books I have been looking forward to for reviewing, books I have been meaning to read forever and even a few I may have read before. This is my time to enjoy some pleasurable 24 hours of books. So check out my picks below.

My Reading List

*The Baby Planner by Josie Brown

*Supernaturally by Kiersten White

*Beastly by Alex Flinn

*The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James

*Numbers by Rachel Ward

*Delirium by Lauren Oliver

*The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

*The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

It’s that time of year again! Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon is here! Last Read-A-Thon I did really well and was one of the page count winners so this year I am really going to try and stay up and push the envelope! In the last Read-A-Thon I must admit I crashed a little early. I have my books planned and am working on my snacks…these are a must for a Read-A-Thon in my opinion. I do know I will be enjoying some Godiva Chocolate Truffle coffee to try and keep me going! I never really set goals for the Read-A-Thon, I really just put together a pile of books I want/need to read and go at it!

This year’s selection for the October 9, 2010 Read-A-Thon

As you can see I like to choose a wide variety of genres so that if I get in a rut..there are lots of options. I asked my friends yesterday what I should start reading this morning but I ended up finishing The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard and loved it. I highly recommend it and will be giving away two copies immediately after Read-A-Thon ends thanks to the publisher HarperCollins. Also keep a watch for my review.

All you need to do to enter is tell me what you are reading right now in the comments below! And make sure you leave me an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! US and Canada address only please.

Good Luck Everyone & Happy Reading!

My Read-A-Thon Books

The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard

When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker

The Pink Locker Society by Debra Moffitt

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Dancing with Mr. Darcy by Sarah Waters

Mr. Darcy’s Littler Sister by C. Allyn Pierson

Stork by Wendy DelSol

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove by Susan Gregg Gilmore

The Intern by Jess C. Scott

Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell

End of Read-A-Thon Update

Total Number of Books Read: 6
Total of Pages Read : 2,030
Total of time Spent Reading :  15.25
Mini-challenges Completed: 12
Prize Won: 0

Well…it’s that time again to say goodbye to Read-A-thon and all my fellow readers over the past 24 hours. This year I did pretty good but I did sleep and that hurt my numbers badly. However what it most important is that I still had a blast and can’t wait to write up my reviews for those books I did read. Look for them in the coming days on Stiletto Storytime…see you all nest Read-A-Thon!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and cheered for me or visited to enter a copy of Joyce Maynard’s The Good Daughter’s. It was definitely one of my favorite books from read-a-thon this year. The big winners were:

Erin @ Crazy Comma Momma

Debbie @ Readerbuzz

Congrats to you both! I know you will love the book just as much as I did!

That’s a Wrap: Dewey’s Read-A-Thon

Well I did it…the best I could with  a few important events (one of my close friends was married last night) squeezed in that required me to stop reading but staying up through the night pushed me pretty far in my results. For my readers out there not involved in the Book Blogging World…I encourage you to give it a try next year, Dewey’s Read-A-Thon is a fun way to devote yourself completely to reading for a day and really push yourself. You also get a lot of that To Be Read List done and it feels great! Can’t wait for next year! I was also lucky enough to finish one of my challenges for the year as well in my reading.

Total Books: 12 (One is missing from the picture…I think it’s in the bed somewhere!)

Total Pages: 3, 756

Total Hours Read: 15.5

The Last Hours Mini-Challenge Answers

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? About 5 am…I feel asleep!

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris  if you are a True Blood Fan
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I Love it! I just wish for once I had no events come up on the same day!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I loved the mini-challenges this year. Especially Bart’s.
5. How many books did you read? 12
6. What were the names of the books you read? Pictured above…minus A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
7. Which book did you enjoy most? The Ladies’ Paradise by Zola
8. Which did you enjoy least? Flow (Non-Fiction so was kind of hard to do in one setting but very interesting and funny)
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I might try to be a Cheerleader next year but I think this year’s were wonderful!
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Next Year Absolutely…if no events…maybe a Cheerleader!

Read-A-Thon Progress and Mini-Challenges

It’s that time again. Dewey’s Read-A-Thon! I am trying to do as much reading as possible although I do have a wedding to go to tonight. Is it rude to read during the ceremony? Just kidding…but I am going to come straight back and once again hit the books! Currently I am loving Zola’s The Ladies’ Paradise. The I have decided to tackle the entire Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris again so that I can be caught up and read my ARC of Dead in the Family with everything nice and fresh. This will also finish my Sookie Stackhouse Challenge! So that is what I plan to for the rest of the Read-A-Thon. Anyone else enjoying some Sookie? Right now I thought I would take a quick break for a mini-challenge from Bart’s Bookshelf!  The challenge is to make a phrase or sentence using the titles of 3-4 books. I really just grabbed a few books and put it together in a minute so I can get back to reading! But mine is below…

“Who do you think you are? Wicked Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? The Queen’s Fool?”

Happy Reading to all the participants!!! Hope everyone got plenty of rest last night. Good Luck!

Also here is my second mini-challenge hosted by Til We Read Again.

And what a fun one…we just need to give our nominees for the following categories…we are all rather opinionated so this should be a cinch!

• Favorite Female Character in a book: Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• Favorite Male Character in a book: Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• Favorite Side Kick in a book: Mr. Bingley from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Favorite Couple in a Book: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Favorite Book Series: Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris(currently)

• Favorite Author: Jane Austen

• Favorite Book Cover: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

• Favorite Book of 2009: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout