Bluebird

Update #4

Hour 19

Well, I've got work tomorrow so this will likely be my last post until the final survey.

I had some unexpected issues arise that cut into my reading time so it doesn't look like I'll finish Joyland before the end of the readathon.  However, I have started another audio book: Mrs Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Barbara Rosenblatt.

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The Best of the Best Mini Challenge

Best Book of Your Reading Year:

  this one's easy.  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  A powerfully moving story of two courageous sisters in during the German occupation of France during WWII.  I've shied away from WWII books of late, but am so glad I didn't pass this one up.  

Best Main Character of Your Reading Year:

   Mrs Pollifax!  She's a white haired 60ish year old woman who decides one day that she wants to join the CIA, so she goes down to Washington DC to offer her services.  This year I've read 5 books in the Pollifax series, and they just get better and better.  I highly recommend them as an audio read by Barbara Rosenblatt-she is fabulous!

Best Mystery Book of the Year

  This is a tough one.  I've read a lot of mysteries this year, from cozy, to hard-boiled, to historical.  It's hard to say one is better than another, so I could say four or five are "the best".  I'll just list two here:

Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy.  Grace MacBride and her partners at a software company, have a created a new computer game they think will be the next big thing: Serial Killer Detective. Unfortunately someone decides to turn the game into real life: people are being murdered exactly as in the game.  Great characters and a compelling storyline.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.  It's a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and unable to put it down once I started.  Even though the ending fell a bit flat for me, I enjoyed it so much that I still gave it 4 ½ stars.

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Update # 3: 

Hour 12  

Mid Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?  I'm still reading Joyland by Stephen King
2. How many books have you read so far?  I finished one: Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I don't know if I'll get to another book, but I do I'm think I'll tackle the next Inspector Gamache/Three Pines book by Louise Penny or the Mrs Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  I had a doozy of an interruption at Hour 10.  I fear my participation during the 2nd half will be less than I originally planned.  
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  I was surprised that I spent so much time listening to my audiobook rather than reading.  I've needed to multi-task a lot today.

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Update # 2:

Hour 9

Wow, the day is just zipping by.

I'm still reading Joyland by Stephen King

I finished Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell

Here are my readathon stats:

Books Read:  1 (sort of, I'd read 2/3 of the book before today)

Total pages read: 258

# of snack breaks:  none (yay, but the day is still young)

# of challenges participated in: 2

# of blogs visited: 10

# of blogs cheered: 5 (I can't quite figure out how to cheer on some without having to create a new type of account) 

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Mini Challenge: Treasure Hunt

find a book with one of the listed items on the cover: tree, snow, weapon

I found all 3 from my "read" shelf.  

Are there bonus points for books with both Tree and Snow on them?  : )

tree & snow

weapon

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Update # 1:  

Hour 5

My reading today will be via traditional books, e-books and audiobooks.

I started my readathon with a book that's been on my TBR shelf for more than one year--and one I planned to read at the last readathon:  Joyland by Stephen King, on my Kindle.  It's a great choice to start.  I'm about 20% in and loving it! 

When I'm not able to sit down and read today, I'll be listening to Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell.  I started this last week and had about four hours left before the day started. I'm hoping to finish today--I've already listened to one hour this morning while running errands.

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Hour # 1

Yay!  I'm here, and only ½ hour late!

Opening Meme:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

I'm in Southern California.  It's a cold day for us, the forecast is for cloudy with a high temperature in the 60's.  Great day for reading.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

I'm hoping to finish Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Chocolate Covered Almonds--my favorite

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I fell in love with books as soon as I learned to read.  My folks said I always had my nose buried in a book--even when we were on family vacations.  My love of books persists today, but in a much more balanced way--which is why I'm happy to spend most of today just reading!

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

This is my 3rd read-a-thon.  This year I hope to spend some time cheering others today!