TSS: Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up

As anyone who was visiting undoubtedly noticed, my last post for the event was in hour 9. I think I lasted up until about Hour 11, falling asleep around midnight, and then got up again this morning to continue reading. I read 1311 pages in a total of 11 hours and 9 minutes.

The end of event survey:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Around midnight, which isn’t a huge surprise. I haven’t been able to stay awake past midnight very often since I started working – my body clock is too good at sending me to sleep!

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

Of the ones I read this time around, Shades of Milk and Honey and Howl’s Moving Castle were the best choices. They were both great books and kept me very entertained – plus I read them both ridiculously fast, giving me a sense of accomplishment.

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

Nope, I am happy to sit back and read!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

I thought everything was organized pretty well. To be honest I didn’t spend much time on the mini-challenges or on the main blog – I mostly read and visited the blogs of others I knew participating.

5. How many books did you read?

I read 4 complete books and then finished the remaining half of what I was reading previously.

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

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal, Touching the Void by Joe Simpson, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley, and Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint.

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

It’s hard to say, but a clear toss-up between Shades of Milk and Honey and Howl’s Moving Castle.

8. Which did you enjoy least?

Touching the Void. It was fine as a book, but I’m not into mountaineering which made it harder to enjoy.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

Not a cheerleader.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Very likely, and I’d probably still be reading.

Part of my problem this time around is that I actually got tired of reading at some point Saturday evening, around dinnertime. I took a break, but I wasn’t that crazy about heading back to the couch and reading again. I’m not sure if this is just a sign that I read plenty in my normal life, so I don’t really need to spend an entire day reading, or that it was just a nice day and I didn’t like that I’d been cooped up inside all day. I would have read outside if there was an area nearby peaceful enough for reading! But never mind – I did read a lot and I actually started reading another book this afternoon, so I wasn’t put off too much!

Speaking of this afternoon, we spent the rest of today in the sunshine. Here are some lovely blue flowers: