Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Book Puzzles

Welcome reader-a-thon-ers!  I'm super excited to be hosting the Book Puzzle mini-challenge again.  Hopefully this will be a fun break from your reading that will let you exercise other parts of your brain!

For this challenge, you will be creating a Book Puzzle.  Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.  I have done an occasional game on the blog called Name That Book where I created book puzzles and let people guess the titles.  Here's an example from that first game:

This series of pictures illustrates the title Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

Now it's your turn to create your own Book Puzzle (or you can create more than one - they are quite fun).  Once you've posted your puzzle on your blog or wherever, come back and leave me the direct link to your puzzle below.  And be sure to visit others' puzzles - it's lots of fun to guess!

[For more examples or some inspiration, take a look at last April's read-a-thon Book Puzzle participants, check out other episodes of Name That Book, check out Name That Book episodes from Stephanie Reads, or look at these awesome book puzzles created by Mrs. Stakey's 6th grade class.]

I'll be picking a winner (randomly of course, I'm not good at judging awesomeness) and the winner will get to choose any two books from the photo below.  Unfortunately, since my funds are a bit slim right now, I can only send it to US addresses (though international participants are still welcome to create Book Puzzles).  You have until the end of hour 8 to enter.  Now go forth and create!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon: Updates and My Final Stats!

So, I decided last minute that I simply could NOT let Dewey's read-a-thon pass me by!  This may be my last chance in a while, because who knows where I'll be when my baby comes. :)  Of course, my day is looking extremely full already (I probably won't get to reading until this afternoon) and I lack the ability to stay up past 10pm, so I'm aiming low and hoping to read for 5-10 hours and maybe finish a book or two.  I am hosting the Book Puzzle mini-challenge again starting hour 6, so be sure to come by then.

I'm so unambitious too, that I don't have a pile of books to read either.  I guess I'll just grab whatever strikes my fancy and hope for something awesome.

Final Update:
Turns out, I pretty much crashed right about the time I did my second update.  So, yeah.  Not so great with the read-a-thon.  But, still glad I decided to try.  And yeah for all the awesome Book Puzzles y'all created!

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
This is so funny I just can't even.  All of them?  The few that I wasn't actually reading? :)

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Well, Bomb by Steve Sheinkin was the only one I read, but it was pretty darn exciting and fun!

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I think it runs very well, as always!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Uh, I don't know that I have enough info to answer this.  It was fun to see all the winners each post, though!

5. How many books did you read? What were the names of the books you read? Which book did you enjoy most? Which did you enjoy least?
Just finished the one, Bomb by Steve Sheinkin, which I guess makes it the most and least enjoyed!

6. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? 
Well, I'm going to have a new baby next time, but I'm still thinking I might try to host the Book Puzzle mini-challenge again, because I just love it!

Final stats:
Title of book(s) read: I ended up only reading a few pages of Diverse Energies by various authors and I finished Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
Number of books completed since I started: 1
Pages read since last update: 5
Total pages read since I started: 273
Time spent reading since last update: ~10 min
Time spent reading since I started: 5 hrs (yeah, my minimum goal!)
Mini-challenges completed: 4 (Intro, Alexis' Turn the Page, and Andi's Six Word Celebration, End of Event)

Update #2: Hour 17
Well, good thing my goals weren't lofty, as I'm not sure I'll manage to get much more reading done today!  Still, it's fun to try:

Title of book(s) currently reading: Just finished Bomb by Steve Sheinkin, thinking about starting Loki's Wolves by Marr and Armstrong or maybe Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
Number of books completed since I started: 1
Pages read since last update: 147
Total pages read since I started: 268
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs 20 min
Time spent reading since I started: 4 hrs 50 min
Mini-challenges completed: 3 (Intro, Alexis' Turn the Page, and Andi's Six Word Celebration)

Update #1: Hour 10
Well, I've just managed to get in a little bit of (interrupted) reading time so far and I'm about to be interrupted again for a few hours.  Good thing my expectations were low! Here are my current stats:

Title of book(s) currently reading: I'm working my way through Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
Number of books completed since I started: 0
Pages read since last update: 121
Total pages read since I started: 121
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs 30 min
Time spent reading since I started: 2 hrs 30 min
Mini-challenges completed: 1 (just the intro)

Intro mini-challenge:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Sunny (and maybe a little bit too warm already) Arizona.  Hopefully I'll read in my hammock for a while.

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

I haven't got a stack prepared, so I'm hoping to be surprised :)

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Give me some fresh fruit - I've got some yummy pineapple waiting to be eaten.  And probably some chocolate.  And whatever else I crave.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I'm hoping I can find a position comfortable enough to read in for a while - folks aren't kidding when they say that last trimester can be uncomfortable!

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?

Care less about how much I read and doing every mini-challenge I possibly can. :)  In other words, be more laid back.

Welcome, read-a-thon-ers!  How's your day shaping up?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Book Puzzle

Welcome reader-a-thon-ers!  I'm super excited to be hosting the Book Puzzle mini-challenge again.  Hopefully this will be a fun break from your reading that will let you exercise other parts of your brain!

For this challenge, you will be creating a Book Puzzle.  Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.  I have been doing a biweekly an occasional game called Name That Book where I create book puzzles and let people guess the titles.  Here's an example from that first game:

This series of pictures illustrates the title Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

Now it's your turn to create your own Book Puzzle (or you can create more than one - they are quite fun).  Once you've posted your puzzle on your blog or wherever, come back and leave me the direct link to your puzzle below.  And be sure to visit others' puzzles - it's lots of fun to guess!

[For more examples or some inspiration, take a look at last read-a-thon's Book Puzzle participants, check out other episodes of Name That Book, check out Name That Book episodes from Stephanie Reads, or look at these awesome book puzzles created by Mrs. Stakey's 6th grade class.]

I'll be picking a winner (randomly of course, I'm not good at judging awesomeness) and the winner will get to choose any two books from the photos below (sorry about the crummy photo quality - you can ask me about specific titles if you need to).  Unfortunately, since my funds are a bit slim right now, I can only send it to US addresses (though international participants are still welcome to create Book Puzzles).  You have until the end of hour 10 to enter.  Now go forth and create!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon - Updates and Progress

Well, hello there, read-a-thon.  Did you start already?  Did I sleep in?  Alas, this will probably be my poorest performing read-a-thon yet.  However, I can't let another 'thon slip by without joining in (and I've got my lovely Book Puzzle mini-challenge going on during hours 9-11, so check back for that.

And to wrap things up:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
You know, right in the middle, I struggle with not doing the stuff I need to get done.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I really sped through The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - it was fast, interesting, and best of all, had some pictures :)

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Keep doing what you're doing.  I think it runs really well, actually.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I thought the Hourly announcements - winners, mini-challenges, etc, - all were done well and quickly.

5. How many books did you read?
I finished one I'd started earlier and read two full books.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
Finished Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, read What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Happy I finished up Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, also I liked The One and Only Ivan

8. Which did you enjoy least?
Which means I didn't much care for What Came From the Stars - despite having some excellent parts

9.  How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I always seems to sign up, even if I don't think there's much chance for me to read.  But, every year I say I'm going to try cheerleading, and every year I forget.  Maybe next time!  Plus, I'd like to keep doing my Book Puzzle mini-challenge.

Update #5, Hour 19 - and I think I'm done!

Title of book(s) currently reading: just finished The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Number of books completed since I started: 3 (The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt and Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, though I started it previously)
Pages read since last update: 310
Total pages read since I started: 803
Time spent reading since last update: 2.15 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 11.15 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 7
____________________________________

And I'm too late to actually participate in the Intro mini-challenge, but I'm still doing it.

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

Beautiful, sunny Arizona - oh the weather is just perfect!  Perhaps I'll read in my hammock?

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

Oh, just about anything I'm up for.  Ok, secretly, I don't have a stack prepared :(

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Birthday cake!  My birthday is Monday, but we got a cake already - yum!

(Here's a photo, for Uniflame Create's mini-challenge)

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I spent yesterday afternoon moving about 300 boxes of textbooks for my school - I'm quite sore today.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?

I'll probably do less reading, unfortunately, but we'll see what happens today.  I've got a lot of things going on today!

And for updating purposes:

Mid-Event Survey:
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?

Well, considering how little I've read, my eyes shouldn't be tired.  I did take a small nap though :)

2) What have you finished reading?

Just Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

3) What is your favorite read so far?

Well, I'm really enjoying listening to The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan whenever I go somewhere in the care :)

4) What about your favorite snacks?

The delicious birthday cake pictured above is very yummy.  I also had some strawberries and cream that didn't go down too badly :)

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!

I really enjoyed visiting all the blogs that participated in my Book Puzzle challenge - and many of them were new to me.  Check out their puzzles!

Update #5, Hour 19 - and I think I'm done!

Title of book(s) currently reading: just finished The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Number of books completed since I started: 3 (The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt and Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, though I started it previously)
Pages read since last update: 310
Total pages read since I started: 803
Time spent reading since last update: 2.15 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 11.15 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 7

Update #4, Hour 17

Title of book(s) currently reading: I'm about to start The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Number of books completed since I started: 2 (What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt and Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, though I started it previously)
Pages read since last update: 213
Total pages read since I started: 493
Time spent reading since last update: 3.25 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 9 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6

Update #3, Hour 12

Title of book(s) currently reading: What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt & some audio of The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, though I started it previously)
Pages read since last update: 66
Total pages read since I started: 280
Time spent reading since last update: 1.75 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 5.75 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6

Update #2, Hour 10

Title of book(s) currently reading: What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, though I started it previously)
Pages read since last update: 104
Total pages read since I started: 214
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 4 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6

Update #1, Hour 7

Title of book(s) currently reading: Nearly finished with Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
Number of books completed since I started: 0
Pages read since last update: 110
Total pages read since I started: 110
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 2 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 4 (5 if you count the intro)
 

How's your read-a-thon going?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Book Puzzle

Welcome reader-a-thon-ers!  I'm super excited to be hosting the Book Puzzle mini-challenge again.  Hopefully this will be a fun break from your reading that will let you exercise other parts of your brain!

For this challenge, you will be creating a Book Puzzle.  Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.  I have been doing a biweekly game called Name That Book where I create book puzzles and let people guess the titles.  Here's an example from that first game:

This series of pictures illustrates the title Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

Now it's your turn to create your own Book Puzzle (or you can create more than one - they are quite fun).  Once you've posted your puzzle on your blog or wherever, come back and leave me the direct link to your puzzle below.  And be sure to visit others' puzzles - it's lots of fun to guess!

[For more examples or some inspiration, take a look at last read-a-thon's Book Puzzle participants, check out other episodes of Name That Book, check out Name That Book episodes from Stephanie Reads, or look at these awesome book puzzles created by Mrs. Stakey's 6th grade class.]

I'll be picking a winner (randomly of course, I'm not good at judging awesomeness) and the winner will get a special treat - since I met Lois Lowry this week (thank you, Changing Hands), I got my ARC of Son signed and I'm offering that as the prize.  Unfortunately, since my funds are a bit slim right now, I can only send it to US addresses (though international participants are still welcome to create Book Puzzles).  You have until the end of hour 11 to enter.  Now go forth and create!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Bring on the Read-a-Thon: Progress and Finish!

It's finally time for another read-a-thon!  Yeah!

Post read-a-thon survey:

-Which hour was most daunting for you?
Um, actually right in the middle, about hours 13-15, since I was doing other stuff

-Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I think if you pick some nice short YA non-fiction, it goes down easy - especially if there are photos and other things (I really enjoyed Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Also, I loved Partials by Dan Wells, but it is pretty long despite the quickness of the read

-Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
A little more advertising in advance - I think it kind of surprised me when it arrived cause I hadn't heard anything about it since I signed up!

-What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The hosts and mini-challenges

-How many books did you read?
I only finished one  and started/continued three

-What were the names of the books you read?
Finished: Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
Started/continued: The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer (audio), Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, and Partials by Dan Wells

-Which book did you enjoy most?
Um, actually I really loved all of them!

-Which did you enjoy least?
see above :)

-How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again?
Quite likely - I tend to sign up even when I don't have the time

-What role would you be likely to take next time?
Reader and I really ought to sign up to be a Cheerleader too - and I plan to host my Book Puzzle mini-challenge again :)

Update #4, hour 20 (Final Update)

Title of book(s) currently reading: Partials by Dan Wells and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: still only 1, I guess I jump around too much :)(Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 130
Total pages read since I started: 538
Time spent reading since last update: 2.75 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 11.25 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6 ish (I think) no new ones :(

Update #3, hour 17

Title of book(s) currently reading: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 200 (including audiobook)
Total pages read since I started: 408
Time spent reading since last update: 3.5 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 8.5 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6 ish (I think)


Update #2, hour 13
Title of book(s) currently reading: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 113
Total pages read since I started: 208
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs (friends stopped by!)
Time spent reading since I started: 5 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 5 ish (I think)

Mid-event Survey
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
Ready to buckle down and read (just said goodbye to some visitors)
2) What have you finished reading?
Just one book - Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin (so moving!)
3) What is your favorite read so far?
I am really enjoying listening to Curse of the Blue Tattoo - what an awesome audiobook
4) What about your favorite snacks?
I just devoured some delicious cookies, so I might need to have something healthy now...
5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love! I haven't had a chance to look at all the book puzzle entries yet, but I'm quite sure there are lots of fun ones there!

Update #1, hour 7
Title of book(s) currently reading: Still with Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 0
Pages read since last update: 95 (+ about 45 min of audiobook)
Total pages read since I started: 95
Time spent reading since last update: 3 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 3 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 3 ish (I think)

Ok, so this might be another disastrously poor blogger event for me, but I think with some handy dandy audio books, I might be able to pull off something decent.  I love read-a-thons, and though I'm trying to accomplish stuff on our new house, I just couldn't pass it up.  Here's my info for the intro challenge:

-Where are you reading from today?
My new house!  Hopefully outside in the nice weather of AZ (nice until it gets too hot, that is).

-A bit about me.
1- I should be working on my house.
2- I'm neither a morning person nor a night person - I guess I'm a midday person
3- I can't say no to chocolate peanut butter candy (oh the reese's were invented for me)

I have a list of 6 books here that I'd say are my options, not necessarily TBR:
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer (best. audiobooks. ever.)
Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Partials by Dan Wells
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
-Book I'm most looking forward to is Partials by Dan Wells

-Snack I'm looking forward to:
Oops, forgot to plan for snacks! I did have Cherries with fresh strawberries though and it was yummy :)

-If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Stop reading if it is becoming a drudgery and do something else.  This shouldn't make you not want to read, it's not a contest.  Enjoy yourself until you aren't anymore and then stop :)

I'd like to read about three books, but have no real goals as far as hours or mini-challenges  (I am hosting a fun mini-challenge from hour 3 to 6, so check it out).

I'll be updating this post throughout the read-a-thon, so just check back every once in a while to see how things are going, if you're interested.

What are your plans for the read-a-thon (or for this weekend if you're not doing the read-a-thon)?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Book Puzzle

Welcome reader-a-thon-ers!  I'm super excited to be hosting this mini-challenge again.  Hopefully this will be a fun break from your reading that will let you exercise other parts of your brain!

For this challenge, you will be creating a Book Puzzle.  Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.  I have been doing a biweekly game called Name That Book where I create book puzzles and let people guess the titles.  Here's an example from that first game:

This series of pictures illustrates the title Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

Now it's your turn to create your own Book Puzzle (or you can create more than one - they are quite fun).  Once you've posted your puzzle on your blog or elsewhere, come back and leave me the direct link to your puzzle below.  And be sure to visit others' puzzles - it's lots of fun to guess!

[For more examples or some inspiration, take a look at last read-a-thon's Book Puzzle participants, check out other episodes of Name That Book, check out Name That Book episodes from Stephanie Reads, or look at these awesome book puzzles created by Mrs. Stakey's 6th grade class.]

I'll be picking a winner (randomly of course, I'm not good at judging awesomeness) who will be able to choose two books from the photo (and list) below.  This is open only to US addresses and you have until the end of hour 6 to enter.  Now go forth and create!

(I also have three audiobooks available not pictured: Tempest by Julie Cross, Dreamland by Alyson Noel, and Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Post Read-a-Thon Recovery

Sorry all, I'm still recovering from the read-a-thon.  In lieu of my usual Name That Book episode, I will direct you to the Book Puzzle mini-challenge I hosted on Saturday.  55 people participated and made puzzles, quite a few of which I could not figure out.  So, if you're in the mood for a puzzle today, head there. 

Happy Monday!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Let the Reading Begin! (Read-a-Thon Updates)

Hello my crazy 24-hour readin' friends!  I am glad to be doing another read-a-thon, even if I should probably be cleaning my house or doing laundry instead.  Meh.

I'm also hosting the Book Puzzle mini-challenge from hour 3 to the end of hour 6, so be sure to check it out!

Here are my status updates and such like, for those who care:

Hour 20 update: And I'm off to bed after this!

Title of book(s) currently reading: Still going at The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson with All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin, handy as well
Number of books completed since I started:  2 (Can You Survive: Jack London's Call of the Wild adapted by Ryan Jacobson and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick)
Pages read since last update: 58
Running total of pages read since I started: 954 (+ audio book)
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1 hr 15 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 10 hr 5 min
Mini-challenges completed: 6 (see them here)

And here is my intro mini-challenge answers, though all the other mini-challenges I do will be on a separate mini-challenge post.  This post I will use to update my progress (or sanity as the case may be) - see above. 

Where are you reading from today?

Tis my first 'thon in Arizona - it's certainly warmer, so I'll spend some time outside.

Three random facts about me

1-I can wiggle my little toe separately from the rest of my toes (I knew you'd love that tidbit)

2-Speaking of toes, mine are dextrous enough I can pick items up with them if I'm too lazy to bend down

3-I really like to eat cheese 

(wow, I think that's the most random I've gotten before)

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

Here's the photo pile:

There are 12 there (so ridiculous), though a few are quite short.  Plus I've got Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick on audio and a handful of e-books for devouring if I need some screen time.  I always overdo it.

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)?

Hm...I'm going to say I'd like to finish 5 books.  I guess I better start with the short/fast ones.  (Wonderstruck is totally going to get me a huge # of pages in a very short time - is that cheating?)

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

Start with a short/fast book so you can finish one and feel like you're doing amazing early on.  And eat lots of yummy snacks.

Any other crazy ambitious read-a-thoners out there? Go forth reading-fiends!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenges

Read-a-thon has ended for the year, so here's my end of event mini-challenge:

Which hour was most daunting for you?
Actually, the morning hours were the hardest for me!  No catching up on sleep like I normally do.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I was really loving The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I like to know what mini-challenges will posted when, so I can be sure to check in those hours.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I loved the hosts, they did a great job of creating enthusiasm!

How many books did you read?
2 were finished, 2 partial

What were the names of the books you read?
I finished Can You Survive: Jack London's Call of the Wild adapted by Ryan Jacobson and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Which book did you enjoy most?
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Which did you enjoy least?
Oh, they were all pretty good!

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I totally will, as a reader and maybe a mini-challenge host again.

Here is the post where I will do all the mini-challenges I can handle (oh, except the intro one, that is posted on my update post, because I'm weird that way).  And if you so desire, I'm hosting a mini-challenge myself - the Book Puzzle Mini-Challenge from hour 3 to the end of hour 6, so check it out!

Mini-challenge: 
Rereading from The Bluestocking Society
Here are some of my fave rereads:

Mid-event Survey
1. What are you reading right now?
Just finished up Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2. How many books have you read so far?
That makes two :-(

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
I'm thinking I'll start The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson, which I'm excited about!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Nah, I didn't really have the whole day anyway, so nothing special to do

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Yah, some visitors, but you just roll with it.  Read when you can.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
How very much I expect I'll do and how very little I do!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I like to know what mini-challenges will be when so I know when to check for ones I like to do

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Seriously, set more realistic goals!

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Yes, but not of reading ;-)
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?
I very much doubt I've got something no one else has thought of ;-)

Book Sentence from Midnight Book Gal
Here are my better sentences:

 I shall wear midnight twisted between shades of gray.

 Invisible things don't breathe a word under the never sky.

 

 Ten things we did with their eyes under the never sky.

And my favorite creepy one: All these things I've done with their eyes twisted under the never sky.  Doesn't make lots of sense, but cool anyway :)

Hodge-Podge from Erin Reads
Rose Accord has spent her life dreaming of flying above the earth. But growing up in the deep south, practically a swamp, her chances of escaping her small town are slim. Trying to fight her way against prejudiced teachers and the deep-set current thinking of her day, she finally makes her way to astronaut training, only to be bested by what she least expected – her own self. In this highly acclaimed novel set in the early 1970s, we see one woman’s struggle against the thinking of her day and the weakness of her own body to triumph in ways she’d never imagined.

State Settings
I've just finished the State Settings mini-challenge over at Avid Reader's Musings.  My three books that evoke a specific state:

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock for Wisconsin
White Fang by Jack London for Alaska
these is my words by Nancy Turner for old Arizona


Intro mini-challenge is on my update post.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
 

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge: Book Puzzle

Mini-challenge closed and winner chosen! Thanks for playing! 

Welcome reader-a-thon-ers!  I'm super excited to be hosting this mini-challenge again.  Hopefully this will be a fun break from your reading that will let you exercise other parts of your brain!  

For this challenge, you will be creating a Book Puzzle.  Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.  I have been doing a biweekly game called Name That Book where I create book puzzles and let people guess the titles.  Here's an example from that first one:

This series of pictures illustrates the title Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. 

Now it's your turn to create your own Book Puzzle (or you can create more than one - they are quite fun).  Once you've posted your puzzle on your blog, come back and leave me the direct link to your puzzle in the Mr. Linky below.  And be sure to visit others' puzzles - it's lots of fun to guess!  

I'll be picking a winner (randomly of course, I'm not good at judging awesomeness) who will be able to choose two books from photo below (sorry I'm so lazy I just take photos - let me know if you can't read titles).  This is open only to US addresses and you have until the end of hour 6 to enter.  Now go forth and create!

(Don't laugh at my dreadful TBR shelf):

[For more examples or some inspiration, take a look at last read-a-thon's Book Puzzle participants, check out other episodes of Name That Book, or check out Name That Book episodes from Stephanie Reads.]

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage