I couldn't resist the pressure and signed up for Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon, which takes place this Saturday, which means TOMORROW!
Now, going back to autumn 2013, which was so far my first and last attempt at Dewey's - it was a memorable failure. Though I had all the best plans in the world to spend all the time reading, it didn't happen because we went out in the evening, came back really late, I was hungover in the morning... So this time, no plans to socialise this weekend, there will be me and the books (and the snacks).
Okay in all seriousness, I know I won't be reading for 24 hours. I will make an attempt to read a lot more than usual, but I know that I can't just read, and do nothing else, I'm a restless person like that. I have to have the time to do go outside if I feel like, or work out if I feel like, or take a nap or play with cats, or play some Diablo 3 with Jan. Or have a good night's sleep. I am already this age (:p) when one all-nighter means not one or two but possibly near a whole week of messed up energy rhythms, so even though I love to read, I'm not going to do that to my body.
Since I live in Helsinki, the readathon starts 3 pm for me, which is just fine because it means I have time to do get some stuff done with in the morning. Though I will probably go snack hunting already today. And I get to read on Sunday morning as well, which is, again, just fine.
Here is my tentative Dewey's TBR list (the books I'm planning to choose from):
I don't read graphic novels (which seems to be the bread and butter during readathons), so I just tried to find a variety of various genres, and books that are kinda short-ish:
On Kindle:
* Ella Minnow Pea, Mark Dunn (very short)
* Breaking Stalin's Nose, Eugene Yelchin (very short)
* The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (very short)
* What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami - non-fiction, currently reading
* Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen - a short classic
* Andeka kingsepa surm, Vaclav Erben - a Czech mystery
* Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - book I am currently reading (though I don't think it's best readathon material)
* Red Seas Under Red Skies, Scott Lynch - fantasy
* The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley
* Karlsson stories, Astrid Lindgren - children's n+th re-read (the book's literally falling apart)
Are you taking part as well? See you tomorrow!
Good stack of books there, pretty eclectic mix! I like that you mixed different lengths of the books and genres too. This is my first time joining the readathon, and I plan to simply stay home the whole Saturday!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have your first readathon way better planned out than my first was :)
DeleteI have read the one by Murakami, and I liked it a lot.
ReplyDelete"The Guernsey literary..." has been on my list since forever, I think you'll love it :)
Good luck with your choices and see you tomorrow :D
This will be my first readathon!
Ok, I have just moved "The Guernsey Literary..." a few notches up in the pile ;) Thanks Isi, good luck to you too!
DeleteI very rarely read graphic novels so my readathon list is made up of YA and novellas. Apart from the year I read for charity, I have always had a short sleep. Otherwise I end up not taking any of the words in.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember when visiting your blog back in the day that you were the one who read novellas, definitely a good pick for the event. I have one that is also novella length in the list, I think (160 pages). And it's a good point that even though you might be able to read while having no sleep, the quality of reading experience probably isn't the best.
DeleteGood luck! For me it also starts not in the morning, but at 14.00 and I like it! I appreciate the chance to do something useful before losing myself in a book. Good to know you will not mess with your sleeping schedule, I totally support this! :) Sleeping is important! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, sleep is important (but why do I feel like an old person when saying so :)! I don't think I'll even be able to stay up even if I wanted to, would probably doze off, drop the book (or Kindle) - and who needs that. I'm also planning to get lots done before the start so it doesn't feel like the whole day has been used on reading.
DeleteYou definitely can't forget the snacks (or the kitties)! I may not be participating, but I've just started a book I'd really like to finish this weekend, so I may spend a good chunk of the day reading myself. I hope you have fun though and good luck :)
ReplyDeleteI think over time, snacks has become one of the most essential parts of the readathon :) I've just come home from shop and looking at everything I got I have suspicion I won't be able to eat everything (well I'm pretty sure...).
DeleteI'm curious, though, what is the book you have started? I'll go check from Goodreads later :)
Thanks!
The Joy Luck Club -- I use the word "just" loosely since I started it a few days ago, but haven't gotten very far as I've been busy this week. It's not that long though, so I'd like to not prolong the reading of it over into next week!
DeleteOh, right, I saw that :) I think I read it a long time ago and it was something I had to read for a course, so I don't remember that much, but I definitely want to re-read because I think at this point in life, I'd really like it. Enjoy the book and I'll be looking forward to what you think of it :)
DeleteGood luck! I'll be cheering you on. Are you going to try and finish the books you started first?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! And hmm, good question. I might just start with a few short ones and see if I feel like it (the problems of being a mood reader...), I'd really like to actually get through a few, but if I don't feel like it, I will start something else until I find something that I want to indulge in. :)
DeleteI really enjoyed Northanger Abbey :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun, I'll be joining you also - love Dewey Days!
I hope to enjoy Northanger Abbey too, though I'm not a major Jane Austen fangirl :) (If I remember correctly, you weren't either, though.)
DeleteYay! Good luck for the Dewey's, and lets get a lot of reading done :)
I nearly picked Northanger Abbey too! I get restless as well and have to have little breaks - naps, wandering around the house, maybe playing a game online or listening to some music - but I always return to my book quite quickly, unlike non-Dewey days when an hour can disappear like THAT... :)
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to wind down early tonight and watch a movie (rather than reading in the last few hours before Dewey starts, at 1pm for me), but it hasn't happened and I still have about 30 pages of the Dostoyevsky novella The Double to read. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE READING THAT FOR THE READATHON. To finish it now? Or in the morning? Or just to put it on hold until post-Dewey? I can't decide...
Yep, little breaks are absolutely necessary :) I'll try your tactic of turning back to the book quickly. It's so true that once you get stuck in Internet the hours will disappear, and that makes the readathon kinda pointless, although socialising is also very important aspect and all.
DeleteHaha, the dilemmas :) I know I won't finish my book that I am currently reading, so I will maybe read a bit of it but generally, will just continue in "normal life mode" after the readathon :)