Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Stick a Fork in Me

This was my very first read-a-thon and all in all, I think it was a success. I don't think I've ever read so much in one day, except maybe in college during finals but that feels much different.

Aside from the two naps I took throughout the day (one short, one long), two meal breaks and a few blogging breaks, I managed to devote an entire day to reading which I think is pretty cool. I've never been a super fast reader, but I did manage to finish three books (one that I had started prior to the read-a-thon) and begin a fourth book.

Since this was my first time participating, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised that I was easily tuckered out, as I read in shifts that lasted a few hours, after which I promptly fell asleep. I'm also surprised I didn't eat more, but I suppose a day that is devoted to sitting or laying while reading a book doesn't require many calories. Later into the night my brain began to feel a little fuzzy and my eyesight didn't seem up to par. Hence my final post as I am headed off to bed, 1:30am my time. Considering I started at 7:30am yesterday, I think I held out fairly well.

I plan on participating again, either in October or next April, but I will be sure to change a few things. For one I will be sure to have a least one very small book - we are talking something under 125 pages. I think this would work well as a moral booster and help me to feel more accomplished throughout the day. A graphic novel wouldn't hurt either. I think I will also make time to move around more, as I think the lethargic nature of the day lent to my not one, but two naps.

Final Stats

Books completed: 3
Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut (1969), started prior to the read-a-thon, finished this morning
The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Moshin Hamid (2007)
The School of Essential Ingredients - Erica Bauermeister (2009)
Norwegian Wood - Huruki Murakami (1987), started but not completed

Pages read: 614

Breaks taken:10

Goodnight and happy reading to the rest of you!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: I Feel Asleep Again

I was making good time with The School of Essential Ingredients when I felt myself getting sleepy again. I got up, walked around a little and resumed reading, only to succumb to sleep around 5:30. Then I woke up at 8:15. Yikes... I lost about three hours to an early evening nap.

But I'm back to keep reading. Stats so far:

Pages read: 413
Books completed: 2
Breaks taken: 6

Who would have known this read-a-thon would take so much out of me? I did get 7 hours of sleep last night so I shouldn't be this tired. My goal is to finish The School of Essential Ingredients and get a few hundred pages into a fourth book. Once again, I wish I had a graphic novel to break things up.

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Another Book Down

Since my last update I finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist. It read fairly quickly but was anything but light. It's a very powerful account of one man's struggle with identity and place. Halfway through the novel I took an hour-long nap.

Now I'm off to read something a little more warmhearted - The School of Essential Ingredients. At 255 pages it will take me a little longer, but I'm hoping it moves quickly. I am now kicking myself for not having a graphic novel on hand...

Pages read: 283
Books completed: 2
Breaks taken: 4 (one nap, one meal break, two blog breaks)

After comparing my page count with some other participants, it's becoming painfully obvious I am not a very fast reader compared to other bloggers. But I will keep reading!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Fuel

I finished Slaughterhouse-Five and reviewed it, because I felt like it was overdue. I'm not going to do anymore reviews today and instead focus on the reading! Next up: The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I also took a little break to eat breakfast/fuel myself with some lox and berries.

I don't remember where I read about The Reluctant Fundamentalist, but it sounds quite interesting: a Pakistani's experience living in post-9/11 New York. It was shortlisted for The Man Booker Prize in 2007. At 184 pages I'm thinking I will finish it in a few hours. Until then happy reading!

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Everything is all right, and everybody has to do exactly what he does.

I've always been a fan of Kurt Vonnegut's short stories, but this is my first full-length novel of his that I have read. Slaughterhouse-Five is a semi-autobiographical account of Kurt Vonnegut's experience in WWII told through the eyes of Billy Pilgrim. It combines the bombing of Dresden with Billy's capacity to be "unstuck" in time, time-traveling to Tralfamadore and living among aliens.

Vonnegut explores time and memory, and the human desire to explain the world around us and understand what we don't know. He writes about the human condition brilliantly, highlighting the twinkles of bliss and humor that shine through the darker occasions. He explores the human passion for life and the experience of living. But the book isn't hopeful, as we are left without any resolution or moral. Rather, Vonnegut exposes the follies and the misjudgments that humans experience as we try to cope with life, which to him, is insignificant.

If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem to be, I am not overjoyed. Still--if I am going to spend eternity visiting this moment and that, I'm grateful that so many of those moments are nice.

The book is fractured and written in a muted language, which adds to the non-romanticized, indefinable view of war. While it very clearly satirizes war and exposes it's absurdities, it also speaks to it's inevitability. Slaughterhouse-Five raises existential questions without slapping you in the face with them. We aren't left with answers, but Vonnegut surmises through an exploration of fate and free-will that we can chose our own path, however trivial it may be.

All time is all time. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all... bugs in amber.

 Publisher: Dial Press, 1969

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon: Let's Go!

Let the read-a-thon begin! I snoozed my alarm this morning so I didn't roll out of bed until 7:15 but now that the coffee is made and my eyes are awake I am ready to go! I am starting the day off by finishing up Slaughterhouse-Five, which is long overdue for review.

Last night I picked up some shorter titles specifically for the read-a-thon, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Hamid), The School of Essential Ingredients (Bauermeister) and Norwegian Wood (Murakami). I'll most likely pick one of these up after Slaughterhouse-Five - which has been great so far.

It is miserably gray outside and it feels like the perfect day to read. I'm going to stay holed up at home for most of the day with a book in hand. This is my first read-at-thon and I'm not sure what to expect, but I am hoping to finish 3 books. I think that's pretty realistic provided they aren't too long. Let the read-a-thon begin!

Dewey's Read-A-Thon: I'm in!

I just signed up for Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon and I'm really excited! This will be my first read-a-thon. The read-a-thon begins at noon GMT, which is 7:00am in my timezone. I'm going to hit the bookstore later this evening to stock up on some new titles and then get a good nights sleep to wake up at 7. I'm not going to go crazy and not sleep on Saturday night, but I do plan on staying up as long as I can and reading as much as I can in the 24-hour period.

Since Spring has sprung I have been pretty busy and have let my reading fall by the wayside. This is the perfect excuse to drop everything for a little while and get back to reading. I'll post updates throughout the read-a-thon and hop around to check on other participants. If you'd like to join me, head over to here to sign up.