Hello readers! In case you are not aware, today is Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon, an event where book bloggers read as much as they can for 24 hours and blog about it! I (Danika) have been wanting to participate for years, and this time I finally got the day off and don’t have schoolwork to do! In order to not take up the Lesbrary’s main page, I will be updating this post every hour, so check back in if you’d like! (Each update will be a separate post, but I’ll delete them after the next update and compile them here.) I will also be posting updates as separate posts on the Lesbrary’s tumblr account, if you want to follow them there.
Here are the books I have lined up to read! Sorry for the flash: it is ridiculously early (5 am) and the sun hasn’t come up! I hope you’ll join me throughout the day!
Readathon: Hour 2!
Currently reading: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
And how is it? This is the book I was already reading. It’s nearly 500 pages, so it’s not exactly readathon material, but it is familiar and has MURDER and INTRIGUE and a rainy, mysterious setting, so it’s compelling. I will probably abandon it for something shorter later, though, so I don’t spend the whole readathon on it.
Pages read this hour: 64
Pages read so far: 64
Food eaten: Bran flake cereal. It is too early to eat anything substantial, but I didn’t get enough sleep to go without, so something completely inoffensive.
Interruptions: None so far! My partner is still asleep, so she can’t distract me yet.
Anything else? I’m excited to read everyone’s else’s posts! How’s your readathon going so far?
Readaton: Hour 3!
Currently reading: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
And how is it? It’s still going pretty well. There’s a change of narrator, so it’s a change of pace. I keep meaning to pick up another book, but I can’t decide which one, so I’m sticking with this one.
Pages read this hour: 54
Pages read so far: 118
Food eaten this hour: None!
Interruptions: Other than writing these posts, nothing.
Anything else? I have nothing to say this hour! The sun’s up, so that makes it easier to be awake. I’m surprised that no one on my Reader has posted about the readathon. Am I going it alone this year? Maybe people are waking up at a reasonable hour.
Readathon: Hour 4!
Currently reading: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
And how is it? It doesn’t look like I’m putting it down!
Pages read this hour: 62
Pages read so far: 180
Food eaten this hour: Hummus on toast. My stomach was beginning to growl.
Interruptions: My partner is out of bed, but she demanded I go back to reading when I said hello…
Anything else? Nope!
Readathon: Hour 5!
Currently reading: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
And how is it? Pretty good! I’m ready to finish it and move on, but I have 150 pages to go.
Pages read this hour: 41
Pages read so far: 221
Food eaten this hour: Hashbrowns! They’re my usual breakfast. I was looking forward to my partner (Spencer) getting up and making them.
Interruptions: Spencer has been a little distracting. And I figured that it was time to put on clean clothes.
Anything else? I was hoping it would be nice today so I could lay in the sun, but it’s all cloudy! At least I won’t be tempted to play outside.
Readathon: Hour 6!
And how is it? TRAGIC. [spoilerish] Also, is it terrible if I say I am put off by descriptions of straight sex? Just when they’re unexpected. Still, cool to have a bisexual book to review! [/spoilerish]
Pages read this hour: 58
Pages read so far: 279
Food eaten this hour: None.
Interruptions: Still chatting with Spencer occasionally, but that’s about it. 60 pages per hour seems to be my average.
Anything else? I got to lay in the sun a little! Still, even with laying on the floor and sitting in various chairs, I’m starting to find it difficult to find a comfortable position to read in.
Readathon: Hour 7!
Currently reading: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
And how is it? I’m only 17 pages from the end! Unless it gets wrapped up in that time, though, I’m a little unsatisfied with the resolution.
Pages read this hour: 70! Better than usual.
Pages read so far: 349
Food eaten this hour: None.
Interruptions: Not much!
Anything else? I’m beginning to get a little antsy. I might ask Spencer if she wants to go read in the park.
Readathon: Hour 8!
Currently reading: Drawing Love by Juli Jouson
And how is it? I’m not quite 40 pages in, so I can’t make any definite declaration, but so far I’m liking it! I’m cautious, because it does read like a high school/college kid writing in their journal, but so far it hasn’t been obnoxious. The dialogue between her and her mom was oddly stilted, though.
Pages read this hour: 55, but Drawing Love has big font and pictures, so it’s going much quicker.
Pages read so far: 404
Books completed so far: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls!
Food eaten this hour: Leftover stirfry with tofu! I love peanut sauce.
Interruptions: Getting food, drying dishes.
Anything else? We’re going to the park! Spencer is metal detecting while I read. Hooray! ALSO I FINISHED MISS TIMMINS’! First book done! And scratch my last statement, because it saves the reveal for the last minute and it works.
Readathon: Hour 9!
Currently reading: Drawing Love by Juli Jouson
And how is it? Pretty good! And wow, is it speeding along. Reading books with pictures makes me feel accomplished.
Pages read this hour: 65
Pages read so far: 469
Food eaten this hour: None, but I’m going for chocolate after I write this.
Interruptions: Trying to go to the park.
Anything else? There were children in the playground! CHILDREN. How dare they with their boisterousness and noise. So we went home. We’ll attempt it when there’s not a soccer game and it isn’t noon.
Readathon: Hour 10!
Currently reading: Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram
And how is it? Well, I’m only 8 pages in, but it’s about lesbians and zombies and I like the writing so far. What could go wrong?!
Pages read this hour: 54
Pages read so far: 523
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy and Drawing Love by Juli Jouson
Food eaten this hour: Leftover Easter candy! Have I mentioned that I’m vegan? Those chocolate eggs are Purdy’s dark chocolate and they are GOOD.
Interruptions: Playing 2 hands of Monopoly Deal with Spencer, which, by the way, is way better than Monopoly.
Anything else? I finished my second book of the readathon! I was skeptical, because a lot of Indie/self-publish autobiographical-type books I’ve read have been firmly in the self-indulgent category, but Drawing Love seemed to steer clear of that!
Readathon: Hour 11!
Currently reading: Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram
And how is it? I love it! It’s funny and gruesome, though, admittedly, it is kind of a Michelle Rodriguez fanfic. But what lesbian can complain about that?
Pages read this hour: 40 (The font is really small!)
Pages read so far: 563
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy and Drawing Love by Juli Jouson
Food eaten this hour: None! I’m thinking about popcorn, though.
Interruptions: Not a lot.
Anything else? Seriously, this book has teeny font and big pages. Luckily, it’s a short book, so it shouldn’t be too discouraging.
Readathon: Hour 12!
Currently reading: Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram
And how is it? Good! Not really something to eat while reading, though. The descriptions are… detailed.
Pages read this hour: 45
Pages read so far: 608
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy and Drawing Love by Juli Jouson
Food eaten this hour: Spaghetti and (faux) meatballs!
Interruptions: Not a lot.
Anything else? I think I might be getting a headache, which is not good. And Spencer is bored. Not sure how to remedy these. ALSO, check out the amazing inscription by the author on Eat Your Heart Out
Readathon: Hour 13
I didn’t read anything! I talked to Spencer the whole hour, as well as having a brief fainting spell. Not an eventful halfway point (though, honestly, I have no intention of going the full 24 hours. I’m hoping to get up to 21, so that I have enough sleep before work).
Readathon: Hour 14!
Currently reading: The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
And how is it? Good… I am off put by a poem talking about a catfight between two “transvestites” and a poem mentioning “MTV hos”, since they seem to be from the perspective of the author, but hopefully I’m wrong…
Pages read this hour: 62
Pages read so far: 670
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram
Food eaten this hour: Veggie straws.
Interruptions: Not a lot.
Anything else? Um, I don’t think so… This is definitely the point where it gets harder to keep reading.
Readathon: Hour 15!
Currently reading: The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
And how is it? Pretty good.
Pages read this hour: 41
Pages read so far: 711
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram
Food eaten this hour: None
Interruptions: Helping Spencer make mini apple pie! (We make them in a muffin pan)
Anything else? Nothing exciting!
Readathon: Hour 16!
Currently reading: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
And how is it? I like it! Jesse’s parents are awesome, and I can’t help but love her anti-assimilative little queer self.
Pages read this hour: 49
Pages read so far: 770
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram, The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
Food eaten this hour: None
Interruptions: Helping Spencer make mini apple pie!
Anything else? Nothing exciting!
Readathon: Hour 17!
Currently reading: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
And how is it? I’m still really enjoying it, but oh, the angst! Not in a write-dark-poetry way, just in an overwrought teen relationship way. Emily, why can’t you see that being with Jesse is worth risking your reputation? WHY?
Pages read this hour: 52
Pages read so far: 822
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram, The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
Food eaten this hour: Mini apple pies!
Interruptions: Still helping with pies.
Anything else? Spencer was disappointed with these pies. She’s got tons of extra filling, so she might try the crust again later tonight. Luckily, she is not following through on her threat—uttered angrily at the mini pies—to never bake again.
Readathon: Hour 18!
Currently reading: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
And how is it? Still liking it! Now there’s an anti-Walmart subplot! Who doesn’t love that?
Pages read this hour: 41
Pages read so far: 811
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram, The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
Food eaten this hour: Popcorn with nutritional yeast! It’s the snack I’ve been most looking forward to all day, because I haven’t tried it before, but everyone says it’s delicious, and we just got a popcorn maker. It is delicious!
Interruptions: Making popcorn!
Anything else? WordPress decided to erase my entire main Readathon post and I was panicking until I realized I could restore the last save. Phew! Also, I didn’t want to tear myself away from popcorn and teen lesbian book to update.
Hour 19!
Currently reading: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
And how is it? I’m liking it, but I take back what I said before! Jesse, can’t you see she’s wrong for you? WHY?
Pages read this hour: 63
Pages read so far: 874
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram, The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel
Food eaten this hour: None!
Interruptions: Not a lot, really. Other than panicking about recovering my main Readathon post.
Anything else? I’m still having fun, even though it’s getting up there.
Readathon: Hour 20!
Currently reading: Nothing!
And how is it? I really liked The Difference, but I managed to finish it right before the hour struck, so I’m between books!
Pages read this hour: 62
Pages read so far: 935
Books completed: Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy, Drawing Love by Juli Jouson, and Eat Your Heart Out by Dayna Ingram, The Horizontal Poet by Jan Steckel, The Difference Between You and Me by Madeline George
Food eaten this hour: Mini pies 2.0! They were much more successful than the first bath. Very tasty!
Interruptions: Not a lot.
Anything else? Although I’m still having fun and have actually just started to get sleepy, I think I’m going to call it a night. I have to work tomorrow, and I am going to regret it if I’m groggy. I was hoping to hit 1000 pages read, but I still think this is a good finish! And 5 books done!
Goodnight everyone!
Allysse says
Good luck with the readathon! And happy reading ^^
Danika @ The Lesbrary says
Thanks, Allysse! I’m looking forward to it!
Denise Tanton (@dtanton) says
Happy readathon! I’m just about to start my first book of the day!
Danika @ The Lesbrary says
Thanks! Happy readathon to you as well!
Lu says
Have a fabulous readathon!
Danika @ The Lesbrary says
Thanks, Lu!
Casey says
This is great! I’d like to try this one year. Good luck!
Danika @ The Lesbrary says
It’s a lot of fun! I definitely recommend it. They’re in April and October every year, so there are two chances!
solargrrl says
It’s late in the day for me, but I am enjoying reading your hourly posts and watching how it all evolves! Good luck in the last few hours.
Danika @ The Lesbrary says
Thanks so much! I was worried about flooding people’s readers, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I’m having a lot of fun. Plus it’s great to check so many books of the TBR list!
Jan Steckel says
Danika, it was fun seeing your notes on your readathon. In answer to your hopes about the two comments that put you off: “MTV Hos” was the exact expression used by the African American woman I know who described her terrible New Years’ Eve party to me; the poem is a persona poem, in her voice. She had a lot of feelings about her brother’s choice in women to date.
The other poem, that mentions “two transvestites” having a tussle, is in my voice. I meant specifically two transvestites, or men who like to wear women’s clothes, makeup, hair extensions, etc., rather than trans women. The poem was inspired both by seeing the hair extensions on my street, and by a friend’s comment on his interview for psych grad school. He was shown a Rorshach blot as part of his grad school interview and said it looked like two transvestites fighting over a handbag. He didn’t get into psych grad school. Can you tell me more about why you find the poem offensive? Thank you! and thanks for taking the time to read my book.
Best,
Jan