Monday, October 20, 2008

Readathon: After The Ball Is Over

Okay, now that I've slept, I can't believe all the fun, camaraderie and reading is over. As always, it's a letdown. Big sigh, but there'll be another one in a few months. Meanwhile, I can complete Dewey's end survey:

1. Which hour was the most daunting for you? When we got into the 20s...boy howdy! I had one hour when I read only 12 pages. My brain felt like it was being bathed in rubber cement.
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2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I was really impressed with those Dorling-Kindersley biographies for young people! You could probably find them at the library. Mr. Bybee bought them at Hastings for $5.00 apiece.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Readathon for next year? Let's double the time! lol

4. What do you think worked really well in this year's Readathon? Dewey's co-hosts kept things running so smoothly; I'm so happy she had help so she could rest a little.

5. How many books did you read? I finished 3 books and got halfway through a fourth one. My total page count came out to 623, which is higher than I thought it would be since I had ten non-reading hours. Never having kept count before, I'm pleased to have a number to match or beat during the next Readathon. Having said all of that, I wish I had participated in more of the challenges. I wish I had read for charity.

6. What were the names of the books you read? How Koreans Talk: A Collection Of Expressions by Sang-Hun Choe & Christopher Torchia; Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry; Princess Diana by Joanne Mattern. The half-finished book is When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris.
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7. Which book did you enjoy the most? It's really hard to say. I enjoyed all of them. Since the reading went so well, I'm going to stick with my nonfiction pattern for the next Readathon.
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8. Which book did you enjoy least? See answer #7.
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9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year's Cheerleaders? The middle hours are when the Readers are tired and really need you. Praise, encouragement, etc. -- all the things you'd be doing, anyway. I tried to find something specific in their blog entries to comment so they'd know that someone was out there truly paying attention and appreciating their effort. Eva, come back -- I missed you and your boundless energy!
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10. How likely are you to participate in the Readathon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Woe betide anyone who would try to stop me from participating again! I'd like to be a Reader/Cheerleader once more, and yes, I'm planning on doing the whole 24 -- or whatever -- hours.

16 comments:

tanabata said...

I really want to read the David Sedaris book.
Congrats on a job well done! :)

raych said...

Yes, hear hear! Eva!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Did you really like "Books: A Memoir"? I read it and it didn't really grab me.

Anonymous said...

OH OH OH! You've got the O-WAO book!!! oh WOW!

J.L. Danger said...

you need to let me know how the Sedaris goes...

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

Way to go! I would like to try cheering next time also. Reading was great but I think it would be so much fun to encourage everyone else as well :)

Anonymous said...

I'm totally impressed by anyone who does this challenge. Congrats on completing it! I am actually contemplating doing it myself next time.

Bybee said...

Tanabata,
And congrats to you as well...as I told you before, we rocked Asia bookworm-style!

Raych,
I know it's graduate school and all, but how could she abandon us at such a crucial time?

Jessica,
I found it a little skimpy and clunky with anecdote, but I loved it when he would talk about books he found, eccentric customers and the odd specialty collections of some of those customers, as well as his own.

bkclubcare,
Homeboy writes like the Alpha and Omega, Marvel and DC.

J.Danger,
I need to finish this before the end of October so I can include it in my wrap-up for this month.

Joanne/Book Zombie,
I loved Cheerleading and felt my energy level plummet when I stopped.

Lesley,
I hope you'll join in for however long you can. I'll cheer you on!

Tara said...

Congratulations! I would be interested in the Princess Diana bio. It's just so sad the way her life ended, especially for her boys.

Tammy said...

Congrats on hanging in the full 24 hours!! I love Sedaris too, and I'm so excited because he's coming ot my town in the spring -- I hope I can get some books signed.

MissMiller said...

I have been eyeing off When Engulfed In Flames...it will have to be my book for the uni holidays. Can't wait for the low-down!

Anonymous said...

HI Bybee!!! just stopped by to say hello (key Neil Diamond... he DID have a song with something like that, right?)

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your updates so much I think I may get a babysitter and lock myself in the closet with a stack of books and a bottomless cup of cocoa for the next one.

? said...

Great choices :)

Dewey said...

I sure am glad I had co-hosts, too. It made all the difference in the world!

I missed Eva, too! Still do, in fact. I hope she'll write a billion posts over Thanksgiving break!

myza said...

I think I need to participate in a 24 Hour Read-a-Thon before the year is over to try and reach my 100 books in 2008 quota.