Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Readathon Prep - April 2017

IT'S READATHON TIME AGAIN!!!

Seriously, it's ridiculous how much I love participating in Deweys. I stumbled across the event two years ago and was unable to participate but I immediately starting counting down the days until the October 2015 readathon. It was love at first page. This will be my fourth Deweys and each time I have changed and refined how I approach it and I am looking forward to the best one yet! 

Today we're going to cover all the important readathon prep topics beginning with, of course, 

Books:

This is my stack of twenty potential reads. I like to have options but not be overwhelmed by too many. I'm just going to give you titles and authors and the reason why they are on my stack. If you want a synopsis you can look it up yourself (or wait until after I read it and it ends up in a wrap up post).
From top to bottom:

Akin to Anne by L.M. Montgomery
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Bellwether by Connie Willis
     These three are rereads. I like to have a few rereads on hand for the later hours when I'm a little sleepy and my mind tends to wander a bit more.

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman
Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise
Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger
The Farthest-Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks
     These are all middle grade books. Middle grade works great for readathons because they are pretty quick to get through and the plots are easy to follow. And who doesn't love a good kids book?!

I Work at a Public Library by Gina Sheridan
     Anecdotes (most less than a page) from librarians. This is going to be the book I leave in the bathroom to read a page or two when I'm in there. Side note: I highly recommend the book Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg for this same purpose.

Mandy by Julie (Andrews) Edwards
     More middle grade.

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
     This may be the book I start with at 5am on Saturday.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
     More middle grade.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
     I read a book by this author a few weeks ago and immediately thought that her books would be perfect for a readathon and I had this one already on my shelves.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett
     I've had this on every readathon TBR and I still haven't read it...maybe this year...

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
     This is the other book I am considering starting with.

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
     Even more middle grade.

Peter Pan by J.M Barrie
     Because I need to read more classics!

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
     It has 24 hour bookstore in the title! How could I not?

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
     I have this one in both hard copy and audio book. I often listen to an audio book for an hour while I do something else but it always ends up being some random book that I don't finish because I don't listen to audio books generally. I thought this way I could switch back and forth between the two mediums. 

The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
     Another reread, also the only book on the stack over 300 pages. For when I need something that makes me feel all cozy and happy. 

The People in the Castle by Joan Aiken
     Short stories. I am not usually a fan of short stories but I always try and have a few on hand during a readathon to keep things fresh. 

Obviously I will not get through all 20 of these books but I have high hopes that I will make a significant dent in the pile. 

Moving on to the second favorite readathon topic:

Food:

I've done something a little different each time around. The first readathon I did quite a bit of research on foods that keep you awake and foods that make you sleepy and planned accordingly. Honestly, I didn't feel like it made much of a difference for me so since then I have just done whatever I feel like. I always have plenty of fruit on hand and cheese and crackers. Of course some dark chocolate. This year I think I'll just pick up a pizza on Friday evening so I have some leftovers of that as well. As for drinks, I'm not a coffee drinker, in fact I avoid caffeine in general but for readathon I treat myself to Snapple Peach Tea because it's yummy and I need a little caffeine. 

Other Prep: 

The week leading up to readathon I try and get little tasks out of the way so I don't get distracted by a pile of papers on my desk or dust on the shelves or an overflowing laundry basket. I want a clean organized environment so I can fully relax on the day of. This time around I am going to be gone Thursday and Friday so I am taking today to get those things done. Friday evening I'll pick up whatever groceries I need on the way home and maybe run the vacuum over the carpet but I'm trying to get everything else done in advance so I can have a relaxing successful readathon. 

There is one other topic to touch on and that is sleep. I've tried to stay awake for the full 24 hours and it just doesn't work for me. I am on the west coast so I have a 5am start time (which I love! seriously, I do!). But by the time midnight rolls around I'm losing any semblance of sanity. I've found what works for me is to sleep for about three hours, usually about 10pm - 1am. This allows me to still participate all the way through the 24 hours and not just disappear at hour 19 or 20. Figure out what works for you! 

Whether this is your first or your fiftieth readathon I hope you have a wonderful time! If you have never participated before ir's not too late to sign up. There are no requirements. You do not have to read for the full 24 hours or even 2 hours. It's just a coming together of book lovers around the world. 

Also: shout out to my parents for babysitting my nieces and nephews on Saturday which is what I am supposed to be doing. But it would break my pathetic little heart to not get to participate in Deweys. Seriously though, Mom and Dad, I know you read this blog and you guys are awesome. I am so grateful for you.






1 comment:

  1. I am SO excited for Dewey's! This year I've wrangled in some friends who are going to join me in ignoring our families and responsibilities for a day lol. Just looking at your pile I'm pulled to A Tangle of Knots because it's so pretty! I hope you do awesome!

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