Medieval Bookworm

I’m getting tired already, so I’m having another break with a cup of tea and an answer to the mini-challenge hosted over at Beth Fish Reads!  I’d just love one of her gorgeous lace bookmarks.  I just wrote about what I ate – a rice krispie treat, a hamburger, and some Doritos – but I also have some more treats.  Crackers and cheese, tortilla chips and salsa, and kiwi are all awaiting me later on.  I also have some Reese’s peanut butter cups, but they’re special so I’m not sure I’m going to eat them yet.  I’ve been drinking Coke and now am having some tea.  I do wish I had some popcorn, but I haven’t found a kind I like here yet.

What foods are giving you energy as the Read-a-Thon continues?

I didn’t do the intro meme yet!  Not so good.  Anyway, I have finished my first book, Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs, and I have read so far for 2 hours and 31 minutes.  Here’s my neat little graph:

Keith is on level six of the first Tomb Raider and has been playing for the same amount of time as I’ve been reading.

And for the intro meme …

Where are you reading from today?

I’m currently at home in Wolverhampton, England.

3 facts about me …

1. I have been married exactly one week today!

2. I wrote a dissertation about Anthony Woodville this summer for an MA in Medieval Studies.

3. I like baking and I wish I’d thought to bake some delicious treats for today!

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I have fifteen left.  I know I’m not going to read them all, though.

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’d like to read more than 6 books and stay up later than 3 am (a tough one for me).

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

This is only my second read-a-thon, but so far the advice others have given me has been great: read short, fun books and make sure you have food nearby.  And don’t get too distracted by the internet!

I’m off to see how everyone else is doing briefly before I continue with book 2.  I think that will actually be The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.  The words are huge, so I’m hoping to get through it very quickly.

1. What are you reading right now?

Halfway through Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan.  I think this has a different name outside the UK.  It’s the fourth in the Ranger’s Apprentice series.

2. How many books have you read so far?

4 total.  This is my fifth.

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

I’m not sure I’m going to get through another book!  I don’t know which one I’ll pick, either.  I just stood in front of my bookshelves for a while, having shunned my pile, before I chose this one.  I might go for the short stories in Tea and Other Ayama Na Tales next if I haven’t fallen asleep when I finish this book.  I’m sure I’ll be up before 1 tomorrow, though, and I’m not sure what I’ll choose then.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Not really.  I just had to do extra work ahead of time.  Keith wasn’t meant to visit this weekend anyway.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

My parents called a couple of times, but that’s it.  I’ve been hiding in my room all day.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

Hmm, I’m not sure.  It’s about how I’d expected it to be.  I think I was expecting to go on twitter more, and I’m finding myself too tired to focus on it.  I know, I’m a little wimpy, it’s only 2:30 am!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope, it’s going pretty well so far I think.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

We’ll be married by the next time, if one is held in October, and I think what I will like is having someone else prepare and buy me food!  Assuming he is willing.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Oh, you’d better believe it.  I’m not a late night person these days.

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?

Not really!  I’ve picked books that for the most part are very absorbing, so I’m not having all that much trouble focusing on them, just keeping my eyes open for it.

Thanks again for the support, everyone.  I’m too tired to check up on people at this stage, but I’ll either get a second wind or be back to see how everyone’s doing after a nap.

So far I’m not liking The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever as much as Quinn’s other works. It’s going by very quickly, but it’s not as much fun as the best of her books.  In fact, I’m even noticing the bad writing, which is generally a bad sign.  Too many paragraphs starting with “and” or “but”.  Oh well.  It’s still decent, just not as good.

And for the mini-challenge:

1. What is the name of your local library? What city is it located in?

York Central Library and it’s right in the center of York, next to a museum and the medieval walls.

2. How often do you go to the library? If you’re a regular, do the staff know you?

Maybe once a week? The staff don’t know me, but I’ve applied for a job there, so they might in future.

3. Do you browse while you’re there or just pick up items you have placed on reserve?

I browse if I have time! I haven’t been too successful there lately though. I think more people are using it as a result of the recession.

4. What is your favorite thing about your local library?

Well, honestly, free books. I love that I can get lots of non-fiction and craft books there too, which are normally more expensive than fiction, and I can justify checking out books I wouldn’t necessarily want to buy.

And, back I go! Hope it’s going well for everyone else. I’m off to check!