WWW... Wednesdays!

MizB17 is hosting a weekly event at her blog, Should Be Reading, called WWW... Wednesdays where you answer the following question every Wednesday. Sounds fun, so I am joining in.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell by M.C. Beaton & The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber.

What did you recently finish? On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts.

What do you think you’ll read next? The next Harry Potter, the final in the Twilight series, Club Dead by Charlaine Harris, and whatever else I can sneak in to try to finish up some of my challenges. For my 999 Challenge I am way low on my foreign reading, so hopefully I can try to slip some of those in as I really want to complete this challenge before the end of the year.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 21 since that was when I passed out.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Janet Evanovich for sure, On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts was a really good read.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? No, I think you guys do an awesome job.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I loved the challenges, they were a lot of fun.

5. How many books did you read? I fully completed 3 and was into my 4th.

6. What were the names of the books you read? On Strike for Christmas, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets, Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell

7. Which book did you enjoy most? On Strike for Christmas

8. Which did you enjoy least? L.T.'s Theory of Pets

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't an official cheerleader but I tried to visit as many blogs as I could.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Definitely will. I look forward to the Read-a-thon every time and am planning to take the next day off from work next time to better recuperate. I'll definitely be a reader and I am trying to come up with a prize/challenge perhaps.

Hour 21 4a-5a

Title of book(s) read since last update: Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update:
Running total of pages read since you started: 507 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 8 hours & 44 minutes
Mini-challenges completed:
Other participants you’ve visited:
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets, On Strike for Christmas

Hour 20 3a-4a

Thank you all for the encouragement. It helps! I'm trying to hang in there. Hope you all are making it through the bleary eyed phase of this journey. What time does the second wind kick in? :-D


Here are the pictures for Picturrific!

The book cover.

In the first of the Agatha Raisin series, Agatha placed a pot of begonias in her kitchen window when she first moved into her cottage in the Cotswolds.

The cottage in the Cotswolds.

Agatha adopted two cats upon moving to the Cotswolds and they are forever exploring the garden.
Agatha is always sneaking off for a smoke, much to the disgust of her husband, James.

Title of book(s) read since last update: Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 14
Running total of pages read since you started: 507 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 13 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 8 hours & 44 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Picturrific
Other participants you’ve visited: Stella Matutina
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets, On Strike for Christmas

HOORAY! I made 500 pages which was one of my goals way back at the beginning. I am so thrilled that I made it that far, at least.

Hour 19 2am-3am

Oh, nooooooooo! My eyes are starting to glaze over!

I totally ran out of steam this hour. I had to put my book down and just surfed around the Read-a-Thon websites to try to perk myself back up. I got a bad feeling though that I may not last much longer. I made it longer than I thought I would though. I didn't think I would make it much past midnight and here it is closing in on 3am. WOO HOO!

Title of book(s) read since last update: Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 24
Running total of pages read since you started: 493 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 12 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 8 hours & 31 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Turn to page...
Other participants you’ve visited: Shel & Monica
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets, On Strike for Christmas

Hour 18 1a-2a

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas; Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 50
Running total of pages read since you started: 469 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 8 hours & 19 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None this hour.
Other participants you’ve visited: None this hour.
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets, On Strike for Christmas

Hour 17 12a-8a

Lynn @ Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile wants to know my five favorite children's books:

Fluffy Goes Apple Picking by Kate McMullan
David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon
Me and My Little Brain by John D. Fitzgerald
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex

All but Me and My Little Brain are favorites of mine and my 5 year old daughter. We have read Goodnight Moon so many times she has it memorized and can read it to me. She also has David Gets in Trouble and parts of Fluffy Goes Apple Picking memorized. Goodnight Goon is a cute spin-off of Goodnight Moon. Me and My Little Brain was one of my favorites going up. I still have a few of the series, but unfortunately they are getting hard to find now.


Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 22
Running total of pages read since you started: 419 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 27 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 7 hours & 39 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Give me Five mini-challenge, Dance-a-thon
Other participants you’ve visited: Lynn, Nicki
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 16 11p-12a

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 37
Running total of pages read since you started: 397 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 38 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 7 hours & 12 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Wisdom of the Age Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Care
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 15 10p-11p

I never met Dewey, but I was lucky enough to be able to participate in several of her Read-a-thons. She inspired me to read more and to take one or two days a year just for myself, to enjoy reading for the love of reading, and not worry about all the things that need doing for just one day. I greatly look forward to those days as a mini-staycation from daily life. I want to thank her for giving me the gift of reading one day at a time, and being able to enjoy a ME day once in a while. Thank you, Dewey. You are greatly missed and I know Heaven has a well-stocked library just for you.

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 24
Running total of pages read since you started: 360 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 29 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 6 hours & 34 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Dewey's mini-challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Eva
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 14 9p-10p

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 20
Running total of pages read since you started: 336 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 25 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 6 hours & 5 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Music to Read by Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Schatzi, Suey, Diane, Icedream, Mari
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 13 8p-9p

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Still reading On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts
2. How many books have you read so far? This is my 3rd.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell by M.C. Beaton
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Other than ordering out Pizza for dinner, not really.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Not too many this year. I'm very pleased with the amount of reading I've got done so far. I have a little timer that I keep track of all my reading with, and whenever I've had an interruption, I've simply paused the timer, dealt with whatever it is and got right back to reading.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How much reading I've managed this year. Last years read-a-thon was a disaster for me and I ended up giving up and going to bed.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? None! I think you all do a wonderful job and I look forward to being able to participate every time.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Definitely make better food arrangements. I had to make a quick run to the store this morning, but I was out running errands anyhow, so no biggie. Next time I will definitely stock up on the snacks beforehand.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Nope, still running strong here.
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? Making sure the rest of the family have activities to keep them busy while I am busy reading is key. I have a five year old, so I stock up on the videos and the coloring books.



Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 22
Running total of pages read since you started: 316 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 28 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5 hours & 40 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Mid Event Survey
Other participants you’ve visited: None this hour
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 12 7p-8p

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 16
Running total of pages read since you started: 294 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 16 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5 hours & 12 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Books That Bite, Re-reading the Classics
Other participants you’ve visited: Tara, Trisha Ping
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 11 6p-7p

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 32
Running total of pages read since you started: 278 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 47
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 4 hours & 56 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None this hour.
Other participants you’ve visited: None this hour.
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 10 5p-6p

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 28
Running total of pages read since you started: 246
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 29 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 4 hours & 9 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Re-reading
Other participants you’ve visited: Erika @ Reading With Momma
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 9 4p-5p

Nicole at Linus's Blanket has posted the Feed Me Seymour! mini-challenge, so here is my entry. Or should that be entree'? :-D

The book I am currently reading is On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts.

Still, a woman only got to eat pumpkin pie once a year. And now that she was Menopause Mama, coping with hot flashes and mood swings, she ought to be allowed a few small pleasures. Anyway, she didn't look all that bad naked. So that meant it had to be the clothes that were making her look fat. Note to self: Find some non-bulky winter sweaters.

She picked up the plate again. "One more bite for the road," she decided and forked up another mouthful.

"Why not?" Lonnie agreed. "You've got a designated driver."

The designated driver gave his wife another pleading look.

Joy took one last quick bite. Rushing through pumpkin pie-it was a crime. She set down the plate, then brushed past Bob and went downstairs to the split-level's lower floor, dubbed the party room.

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 28
Running total of pages read since you started: 218 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3 hours & 40 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Feed Me Seymour!
Other participants you’ve visited: Nicole @ Linus's Blanket
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 8 3p-4p

Nise @ Under The Boardwalk has posted the Who Keeps You Company mini-challenge. The challenge is to post a picture or tell who or what is keeping you company as you are reading today. So here are a couple pics of my faithful companions. Thanks for the great challenge idea, Nise.

First up is my faithful dog, Farley. He is 12 years old and I just love him to death. He follows me everywhere I go, always changing rooms when I do, even following me to sit in front of the bathroom door. He can't climb stairs anymore (back problems), so he will sit at the bottom of the stairs and wait for me to come back down. I can't imagine my life without him.

Next up, is my daughter, Avery. She is five years old and has been hanging out with me quite a bit today. Since I am mostly sitting in my computer room to blog and read, she has chosen to make herself a little nest on the floor near me. She has a portable DVD player so she can watch movies, her own stack of books and has been playing with several small plush toys, off and on while eating way too much junk food for her own good. She was very excited to have her picture taken for the mini-challenge and gave a wave to all the other readers.

I got so busy taking pics and blogging (and having fun) that I forgot to READ this hour! LOL



Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike For Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 9
Running total of pages read since you started: 190 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 8 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3 hours and 10 minutes Mini-challenges completed: Who Keeps You Company
Other participants you’ve visited: Nise @ Under The Boardwalk, Amanda @ A Patchwork of Books

Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 7 2p-3p

Title of book(s) read since last update: On Strike for Christmas
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 27
Running total of pages read since you started: 181 pages & 319 Kindle
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 29 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 182 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Eat to Read Challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: Beth Fish Reads
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Beth Fish Read's Eat to Read challenge wants to know what we have in our snack pile, so I'm chiming in with mine. Nothing creative going on here whatsoever. I've been dieting FOREVER, so today I am letting all that go by the wayside, and I am treating myself to snacks that actually taste GOOD but are not so good for you!

So far, I've been snacking on a bag of Nacho Cheese flavored Bugles and some mini Milky Way and Butterfinger candy bars. Being bad tastes soooooo good! Maybe later on I'll get someone to run out to get me an iced coffee or a hot coffee depending on my mood.

And for supper tonight, we are definitely ordering a pizza. Yummm!!! No cooking for me today!

Hour 6 1p-2p

Title of book(s) read since last update: L.T.'s Theory of Pets
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 84% Kindle
Running total of pages read since you started: 154 & 319 Kindle segments
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 33 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 153 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 0
Other participants you’ve visited: None this hour.
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great; L.T.'s Theory of Pets

Hour 5 12p-1p

Title of book(s) read since last update: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 49
Running total of pages read since you started: 154 +16% audio/Kindle
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 37 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 120 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None this hour
Other participants you’ve visited: None this hour
Books finished: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

Hour 4 (11am - 12p)

Title of book(s) read since last update: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 19
Running total of pages read since you started: 105 + 16% audio/Kindle
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 13 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 83 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 0
Other participants you’ve visited: 0

Hour 3

Title of book(s) read since last update: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 47
Running total of pages read since you started: 86 + 16% audio/Kindle
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 32 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 70 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: Where in the World is the Read-a-Thon, who has participated two or more,
Other participants you’ve visited: Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? , Karen, Just One More Thing, Aphazia
Prize you’ve won: 0

Hour 2

Title of book(s) read since last update: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great & L.T.'s Theory of Pets
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 27 + 16% audio/Kindle
Running total of pages read since you started: 39 + 16% audio/Kindle
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 27 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 38 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 1
Other participants you’ve visited: 0
Prize you’ve won: 0

Hour 1

Woo Hoo! I'm so excited to be able to participate today. Thank you to everyone that helps to make this happen every year. I'm sure Dewey is smiling wherever she is.

Where are you reading from today? Probably a mishmash of things. My attention span doesn't last long these days! I have my Kindle loaded up with lots of books, and can switch to audio when I have to take a trip out of the house today. I also have a stack of library books that I am planning to work on. Mostly small YA books, Judy Blume, Sharon Creech, Pseudonymous Bosch. Hoping to get a few of those finished at least.

3 facts about me … I get my feelings hurt way too easily. I don't go anywhere without my Kindle, it's my new appendage. I love Autumn.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? Looks like about 12.

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)? My goal is to not gripe too much when my family keep interrupting me, which I know they will! :-D Seriously, though, I'm hoping to finish a couple of the smaller YA type books I have in front of me and to maybe finish one of my larger books that I am already into. Other than that I will just be pleased if I can actually get some uninterrupted reading done today. Number of pages, maybe 500?


If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time? Definitely have snacks and drinks pre-purchased and ready to go, which didn't stop me from forgetting yet again this year! Looks like I'm ordering pizza for supper tonight! And have a good stack of books to give you plenty to choose from.

Good luck and have fun everyone!

Title of book(s) read since last update: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Number of books read since you started: 1
Pages read since last update: 12
Running total of pages read since you started: 12
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 11 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 11 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: 1
Other participants you’ve visited: 0
Prize you’ve won: 0

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

I'm so excited for the next read-a-thon which takes place this Saturday, October 24th starting at 8am est. I look forward to it every year and am hoping the family will cooperate this year to let me get more reading done!

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My reading pool includes:

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This Book is Not Good For You - Pseudonymous Bosch

The Wanderer - Sharon Creech

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great - Judy Blume

Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer

On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

L. T.'s Theory of Pets - Stephen King