Readathon, Readathon, READATHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

So...

Oh hey, remember when I was like 'so I'll go to bed now and then get up in the morning and read for the last few readathon hours'? Well. I read a bit and went to bed and then woke up at ELEVEN AM (I know) and since my mum was coming to pick me up at like 12pm I kind of had to motor and shower and eat breakfast and then leave the house without so much as a book (that last part was kind of accidental) and now it's sort of now? I failed at the readathon, basically, but I got in a whole afternoon's worth of reading, and that is no mean feat!

So, Imma do the end of event survey anyway, so there.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Bahahahaha, um, most of them?! Clearly...

2. Could you list a few high interest books that you think could keep a reader engaged for next year?

Well, I thoroughly recommend Rosemary's Baby (it's a page turner) and always just stick to the authors you know you love- for me, it's Bill Bryson, or Stephen King.

3. Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the readathon for next year?

I have some for MYSELF, but not so much for the actual event- I think it's pretty awesome as it is.

4. What do you think worked really well in this years readathon?

NOT MY READING BRAIN! Hahaha, no, but I don't know because, you know, I wasn't all that present...

5. How many books did you read?

Well... I finished one and started another. So, one altogether? A short one, at that.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin and Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

They were both pretty great, actually.

8. Which did you enjoy least?

See above.

9. How likely are you to take part in the readathon again? What part would you be willing to play next time?

I will always take part in readathons, baby. Anddddd... Next time I'll play the part of someone who actually reads things? That sounds like a start.

So yeah. Next time I'll be better at reading and worse at talking to people. It seems like the way to win a readathon, really!

Pages Read: 253

Books Finished: 1

Books Read From: 2

SNACKS: I basically just ate all the food. All of it. Yummy.

Naps: I slept for about 10 hours last night. It was great.

Update the Sheepish: 12am(ish)
So, I've been gone a while, huh? I was kind of expecting this because a house pizza thing was totally planned for this evening and I DID THAT and ended up not coming back upstairs for, like, 6 hours (which is MEGA LONG when you write it in numbers like that...) so yeah, that happened. But NEVER MIND because it was fun and pizza is amaze and also Johnny Depp so yeah. Reading? PAH. (I'm sorry reading ily forever, never leave me).

So anyway! It's like midnight now, so I'm pretty much just going to go to bed because YAY bed. But I will read a bit first, obviously, and probably a bit more and then it'll be 2am anyway, so there's that. And then, MORE READING IN THE MORNING (probably). It's all good.

Pages Read: 218
Books Finished: 1
Books Read From: 2
SNACKS: A loooooot of pizza.
Naps: Actually none. And I definitely feel less tired than earlier. Which probably isn't an invitation to just stay up all night... OR IS IT?!

Update the First: 4pm(ish)
So SOMEONE opened up their computer at about 3.30pm to read some blogs and do a few life things and somehow it was suddenly 4.10pm... I'm not sure who but I'm sure she had her reasons...

Anyway. Reading! It has happened. I'm reaaaaaally tired, possibly because I've been reading whilst fully in bed (FULLY. All that's missing is my pyjamas and no-bra. [Side brackets: I'm wearing a weirdly nice bra for this occasion for no reason and I just keep looking down and loling at myself because boobs! What are you doing?! I might have had too much caffeine already and this is why I'm telling you this story...]) But I've already finished Rosemary's Baby, and I'm reading Hearts in Atlantis which is funnnnn because this kid's all like 'OMG books are sort of magic' (only, in the way we think of them as magic, not in a different, weird Stephen King way) and it's awesome. And now I'm trying to think of the first book that made me forget where I was while I was reading it and it miiiight have been Little Women.

So. That's cool. And Imma read some more now. Also, possibly oreos.

Pages Read: 150
Books Finished: 1
Books Read From: 2
SNACKS: Hummus, with veggies and doritos, and these strawberry laces from ikea that may have been open for too long... But they've gone away now, it's all ok.
Naps: Don't even tempt me...

Before the madness
Ohhhhhh yes. It's that time again, and by 'that time' I obviously mean time to READ ALL DAY AND NIGHT AND NEVER SLEEP EVER! Or... Read for all of the afternoon and evening and go to bed at a reasonable time and maybe read a bit more in the morning because I'm being totally sensible about this because I have to work tomorrow (YES. On a Sunday. I KNOW) and that is NOT going to be happening if I read instead of sleep.

BUT ANYWAY. Let's ignore my lameness (I consider not reading for a full 24 hours lame, apparently) and look at some BOOKS:

There they are, in all their glory. SO. Of COURSE I'm not going to read all of these (as always) but I don't even want to read all of The Corrections so THERE. These are what they are, from bottom to top:

• Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood
• Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
• Affinity by Sarah Waters
• South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami
• Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
• The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

To be honest, if I finish Rosemary's Baby, and the parts of The Corrections I'm reading this week for the readalong, and maybe one of the other (short) books, I'll be pretty happy. Also this was supposed to be posted this morning so I'm totally late and now it's all STARTING and ooh, isn't it exciting?! (I am so unprepared. But I have snacks!) Sooooo, here's the starting questionnaire:

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

I'm in LONDON (sort of) which is the first time I've done a readathon in a house that isn't my parents'. This is pretty awesome.

2. What book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Even though I'm halfway through Rosemary's Baby, I'm actually really looking forward to finishing it! Other than that, I'm quite excited to read some of the GIANT King book because I haven't read any Stephen King for a little while now!

3. Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Something wonderful has happened, and I have a tub of hummus that has to be eaten by Monday. A full tub. I'm pretty excited about it. Also, double stuff oreos.

4. Tell us a little something about yourself

I'm woefully unprepared for this readathon, and a little sleepy. It should be interesting! *sleeps all day*

5. If you participated in the last readathon, what's one thing you'll do different today?

Hmmm... I usually do better in the October rather than April readathons, I think because BED SNUGGLING, but realistically I'll probably be reading less today because of reasons. But, my ADVICE (not that anyone asked for it) is to go easy on the caffeine if you don't want to feel like you might be dying at 5am. That's English time, though... So... Midnight in the US?

I won't be seeing 5am though. Not this time.

That's it! I'm going to reeeeeeead. This is awesome.

READATHOOOOOOOOOOON!

So so so much later

I came back! Finally... Just to get my excuse in, I was round my nan's where there's no internet until about 4.30, and then when I came home the internet WASN'T WORKING, and then I got sidetracked by sewing and... now it's now. But I still came back, and dammit, I'm going to do the end of event thingummy. So there.

1) Which hour was most daunting for you?

Look, one day I'm really going to do this properly, but this time I got a full night's sleep, so all of the hours were fine. From past experience, though, about 5am (or hour... 17? I guess?) has been the time when I simply have to sleep.

2) Could you list a few high-interest books that could keep a reader engaged for next time?

Harry Potter is always good, and Eleanor and Park was AWESOME. I feel like all the books I read (all 3 of them!) were quite good readathon bookies.

3) Do you have any suggestions to improve the readathon next year?

Only ones for myself, like really try to do a full 24 hours and stuff. Otherwise... Nah, it's allll good.

4) What do you think worked really well in this years readathon?

Um, um, um, I feel like I was less pressurey on myself so reading felt more fun than forced. And um... I don't know, twitter was pretty awesome to be on.

5) How many books did you read?

Well, I finished 3. But realistically, I guess I read 1 and 2/3? Whatever, let's just say I read 3...

6) What were the names of the books you read?

You mean... what were the books called? Ok, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Down Under and Eleanor and Park. I also read a teeeeny bit of Wild, but I can't really count that.

7) Which book did you enjoy most?

Ok, so I'm going to say Eleanor and Park? Two of the books made me cry, which is always good/bad. 

8) Which book did you enjoy least?

Don't be silly, I was reading a HARRY POTTER, a BILL BRYSON and also ELEANOR AND PARK. They were all awesome, obviously.

9) N/A

10) How likely are you to take part in the readathon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I will basically always do this readathon, as long as I can. I'm pretty much always going to just be a regular participant, but I would definitely think about hosting a mini-challenge...

There! I'm done! It's alllll over for another 6 months. *Sighs* *Still feels happy*.

Hour...23?

Howdy guys! I haven't JUST woken up or anything (that would be silly, it's like 11am!) But I DID only wake up about an hour ago. I had a really nice sleep though, thanks for asking.

Let's see, this morning... Well, I had breakfast! And I have read, ooh, 7 pages of Wild? I'm really doing this morning-thing well. I do have clean hair now though, so there's that! Of course, I have to go out to lunch in FORTY FIVE MINUTES (am I even hungry? I am not. Who books a table at 12pm, I ask you?) so that leaves abouttt... half an hour to read, and 15 minutes to get dressed? 40 minutes to read and 5 minutes to get dressed? I'm sure these ratios are definitely right.

I will be back for the end of event survey, it'll just be later, as in after readathon later. SO have fun for the last hour and three quarters, my lovelieeeees!

Pages Read: 578

Books Finished: 3

Snacks: Well, just breakfast.

Naps: Sort of a 9 1/2 hour one? It was goooood (but I'm still tired. Probably all the brain work.)

Hour 12 3/4

Have finished Eleanor and Park. I have... Emotions I can't even tell you about, because I don't want to ruin anything. But, OMG.

So. I'm totally going to sleep now. Like, proper sleep that is proper. I can't keep up with you crazy kids anymore. BUT I suspect I will be back in the morning, trying to read Wild because it has to go back to the library next week, so. I will be back. Probably.

Pages Read: 571

Books Finished: 3

Snacks: NOPE. Far too late for that kind of thing!

Naps: Just... gimme a minute.

Oooh, wait a minute, there's a mid-event survey. Must do that!

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?

My eyes actually really hurt, but I haven't exactly not read books that make me cry, so. I feel like I'd be less tired if I started at like 8am, but yeah. I'm tiiiired.

2) What have you finished reading?

Harry Potter 6, and Down Under, and Eleanor and Park. Jeez, haven't you been paying attention?

3) What is your favourite read so far?

I mean... Harry Potter is Harry Potter, you know? But Eleanor and Park was pretty special. (Ugh, my heart.)

4) What about your favourite snacks?

I had a lot more toblerone than anticipated because it was just so darn tasty!

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!

Ok, no? BUT I have bookmarked some blogs that I want to go back to and explore a bit, which is almost the same thing? Ish? Whatevs, it's cool.

BEDTIME! See you in 8 or so hours!

Hour 11

Oh man. I barely even wanted to stop reading Eleanor and Park to update (but also I want it to last forever), but here I am! How is everyone doing?

Eleanor and Park. Well. This is a book. I have to say though, that everyone keeps saying that 'it's so CUTE!' which it IS, don't get me wrong, but also... it's kind of disturbing, no? In a kind of domestic abuse-ish sort of way? I'm not saying I don't absolutely LOVE it, but it surprises me that more people haven't said something about it! For me, it kind of makes everything that much sweeter... But anyway.

Pages Read: 474

Books Finished: 2 

Snacks: I had a Cadbury's Creme Egg! But that's about it. I WOULD have some more diet coke, but I think I'm going to go to bed (well... To sleep. I'm totally in bed already) once I've finished E+P, so that seems like a BAD idea!

Naps: Still haven't had any! Apparently this is basically just going to be a normal day with the sleeping and whatnot. 

Hour 8

I haven't done thaaat much reading in the... time since I last updated, but since it's preeeetty much on the hour right now, I thought I'd update anyway. 

Because GUYS. Eleanor and Park. I mean, I haven't read enough of it yet to properly love love it (I'm mostly like 'Guys. Just TALK TO EACH OTHER, PLEASE') But but but but this: 'He had green eyes. And skin the colour of sunshine through honey.' SKIN THE COLOUR OF SUNSHINE THROUGH HONEY. That's just so fucking beautiful I could cry. Keep being awesome, book.

Pages read: 304

Books finished: 2

Snacks: Just had dinner. It was awesome- breakfast for dinner FTW

Naps: Still none! I'm as shocked as you are. I have just found out we're going out to lunch at 12pm tomorrow though, so... sleep and no last hour of reading for me!

Hour 5 1/3

I have finished another book. Life is good. 

That was Down Under by Bill Bryson, and now I want to 1) go to Australia SO BADLY, and 2) massively see Uluru. Like... It's not even a thing I've ever thought about before ever, really, but Bryson makes it sound like a lifetime-must-see thing, so see it I must! A petit break is in order now, I believe, before I start, FINALLY, Eleanor and Park (eeeeee!)

Pages read: 246

Books finished: 2

Snacks: About 3 triangles of toblerone and some veggie gummy sweets? I definitely need some more diet coke though, or I'm going to fall asleep

Naps: Still none, but see above re: sleepiness.

Weather conditions: It's just started bloody raining! Considering it's been hot and beautiful all week, and I THOUGHT I might get to read outside, this makes me sad.

Also I am DOING A CHALLENGE. The hour 5 challenge is a self-portrait, and here is mine:

Can't you just FEEL my E+P excitement?! (my hairstyle is necessary because I get very bad readathon bed hair. It's like an ILLNESS.)

Hour 3 1/4

So I just finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and my heart is broken. I can't even... 

So I'm giving myself some internet time to recover, and then I'm going to read something super duper happy. Where no one dies. Bill Bryson might be the best person for the job, and also if chocolate helps against dementors, then it will help me in my situation too. Hopefully. *cries a bit* (GUYS, I've just realised that in the last readathon, I read The Casual Vacancy first and cried some there, too! WHY AM I SO STUPID?!)

Pages read: 147

Books finished: 1

Snacks: Actually, I had lunch. Hummus sandwich and some doritos. 

Naps: None as of yet. But I did nearly fall asleep just before starting. That was lame.

7-ish minutes to go!

The introductory meme is up, and I am ALL OVER THIS.

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

Surrey, in the UK (not too far from London). Typically it's RAINING and it looks cold outside, so... I'm fine with the reading all day thing.

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

Prooobably Eleanor and Park. But I'm also looking forward to FINISHING books. Because I totally haven't been, lately.

3. Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Toblerone. I just... have to not eat the whole thing. That would be bad.

4. Tell us a little something about yourself.

Uhhhhhm... I think I'm in love with both Neville Longbottom and Severus Snape? It's a little complicated...

5. If you participated in the last readathon, what's the last thing you'll do differently today?

Well, I'm reading books I'm in the middle of, which I haven't really done before, but ALSO I'm just going to go to bed when I'm tired. Cause I ended up sleeping for seven hours on the sofa last time, and WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT, when I could have just been in bed? Exactly.

Guys, guys, guys! It's like 2 and a half hours til the readathon! It's on days like this that I really hate living several time zones ahead of America, because I wake up at about 9, all excited to READ ALL DAY, but realistically I have to wait 4 hours to do so (I KNOW I could just start whenever. But where's the fun in that?) Having said that, if I had to start at 5am like California et al, it would probably kill me. So there are pluses and minuses everywhere.

Anyway! Normally I do a book pile post the day before the Readathon, but as I think we're all aware by now, Friday is Harry Potter Day, and who can be bothered to post more than once per day? Definitely not me. But, here is a glorious stack of books:

(The light is really bad for taking ipod pictures today. Just so you know.) From top to bottom, they are:

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass by Stephen King

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Down Under by Bill Bryson

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I am literally excited by EVERY ONE of these books. Realistically, I want to finish Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (but also I don't, because YOU KNOW), Down Under, and Wild, because it feels like I've been reading them FOREVER and that is not a fun feeling. Other than that, I also really want to get to Eleanor and Park because it seems like it's going to be AMAZING, and while I'd like to read a bit of Les Miserables, I don't know that I will... But we shall see.

Basically I just want to read them ALLLL. And I'll give it my best shot. In about 2 hours (this has taken a surprisingly long time to write...) As for snacks, I did a bit of snack shopping yesterday but didn't really fancy anything (alarming, I know!) Most importantly, I have a BIG bottle of diet coke, and there are Doritos in the house. There's also plenty of fruit, and there is hummus, and I have a fairly big toblerone and also some Cadburys Creme Eggs. So I think I'm going to be ok, food wise. Now just to wait...

Note: I'm going to be updating this post throughout the day, so new things will appear at the top of the post every so often. Don't pretend this isn't exciting!