Dewey's Read-a-thon Hours 1-8

 1)Where are you reading from today?
        Wynnewood, PA, United States

 2)Three random facts about me…
 a) I've met my pages read goal for the year which was 10,000 pages.  That's thanks to my Kindle for speeding up my average reading speed!  Yay!
 b) I joined Eharmony again to try to meet someone.  I'm hopeful it'll work this time.  I only joined for three months!
c) I love to cook and bake on occasion and may be making thanksgiving dinner this year.  I can't wait!


3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
 I have 22 books on my TBR pile.  I've finished one so far!  Ten are kindle books and the rest traditional books.


4)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)?
 I'd like to finish a few books by the end of the readathon although I'm not planning on doing the whole 24 hours.  I didn't get up today until 10:30am since it's been a rough work week.  My goal is to do a few blogs and post on goodreads, Facebook, twitter, etc.


5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
 Take plenty of breaks and have some good snacks handy.  I took a lunch break to go to McDonalds and picked up some cookies and things at CVS.  I didn't prepare as much for this one which is usually good to do those preparations before the readathon starts!


So in the first few hours of the readathon I finished one book, Grimm's Fairy Stories.  It was very interesting to see how different the stories are from the ones I remember.  Next up I'm planning on reading a regular book since I read this one on my kindle.  I'm excited to get a few books finished and to update my pages read stats for bookcrossing later!  I hope everyone is having fun and happy reading to all!

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

     So I'm preparing for Saturday's 24 hour read-a-thon.  This time I don't have the need to cram into a short span because I've surpassed my reading goals for the year.  I'm just planning to enjoy myself and have fun.  Which means that I'm planning on getting up a few hours later than the normal start time.  My plans are to participate in about twelve hours of the read-a-thon.  I didn't get any snacks this time around but I'm hoping to just find stuff from around the house.  This read-a-thon is starting on Saturday, October 22 at 8 am in my area.   If you are interested in signing up for this read-a-thon you can go to the site at http://24hourreadathon.com .



Here is the list of possible reads which I'm keeping track of on Goodreads:

Treasure Island  by Robert Lewis Stevenson 160 pages (Kindle)
Cinderella  by Henry W  Hewet 24 pages (Kindle)
Stuart Little by E.B. White  144 pages (Kindle)
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 192 pages (Kindle)
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells 192 pages (Kindle)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom 197 pages (Kindle)
Elliot and the Goblin War by Jennifer A Nielsen 208 pages (Kindle)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 208 pages (Kindle)
February Flowers by Fan Wu 256 pages (Kindle)
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau 270 pages
Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire 280 pages
Dancing on Sunday Afternoons by Linda Cardillo 288 pages (Kindle)
A Little Love Story by Roland Murillo 288 page (Kindle)
Wuthering Bite by Sarah Gray 362 pages
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire 372 pages
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 374 pages (Kindle)
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 400 pages 
Wicked by Gregory Maguire 406 pages
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne 432 pages
The Awakening and the Struggle by L.J. Smith 492 pages
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer 498 pages
Grimm's Fairy Stories by Jacob Grimm, Carl Ludwig 609 pages (Kindle)


Total Possible Pages: 6,652 


Good luck to everyone!  I'll be doing my usual updates on all the social sites and trying to participate as much as possible in the challenges.  I love winning free books! Happy Reading All!

Summer Reading fun with The Richmond Rogues

This summer my books of choice for a fun summer read where Kate Angell's Richmond Rogues.  Over the last few weeks I've been reading the first three books in the series and they where a fun, light read.  I highly recommend her books if you love a romantic story with a twist of baseball mixed in.  At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this series as much as I did.  Each story was romantic and fun and kept me laughing at times.  

The first book is Squeeze Play and here is a brief description of the story:

Risk Kincaid and Jacy Grayson have known each other since high school, when, after seeing her crying because her prom date dumped her, Risk volunteered to be her rebound guy. Whenever she broke up with someone, she could call him, and wherever he was, he'd show up for a few days to "console" her. Years later, Risk, now a team captain of a World Series-winning baseball team, returns to their hometown of Frostproof, Florida, for a benefit. He has seen eccentric Jacy every six months or so for years, and he now plans on asking her to marry him. Jacy has never had anyone in her bed but Risk, her true love. All those boyfriends were just a way to keep him in her life. But now she is afraid of changing the status quo. No fan of the genre should miss Angell's surefire romance, and all readers who enjoy light fare will like this amusing and sexy tale and its terrific, likable characters.

 

 

The Second book in the series was Curveball and here is the summary:

Angell continues her pairing of baseball and romance following Squeeze Play (2006) with a sexy, quick-paced tale about the Richmond Rogues. On Media Day, the three members of the "Bat Pack," the Rogues' power hitters, get into a very public altercation that ends with their suspensions for 13 games. Nicknamed Psycho, Chaser, and Romeo, they are left at loose ends. Psycho holes up in his historical Richmond colonial and is surprised when a down-on-her-luck young woman shows up professing to be an interior designer. Chaser hangs out with his childhood friend, who has inherited the ballpark concession stand. They've always been close, but will one accidental kiss lead to more? Challenged by the indifference of a reporter, aptly named Romeo redoubles his efforts to win her over. Ultimately, all three gentlemen meet their perfect match in Angell's sporty romance.  

 

 

 And finally the last book that I just finished tonight was Strike Zone  and here is the summary:

She's back in the game. Faced with the love of her life waiting at the altar, thrill-seeking adventure guide Taylor Hannah lost her nerve and ran. Three years later, the gutsy blonde is back in Richmond to reclaim handsome Rogues pitcher Brek Stryker before he makes another trip down the aisle. From dressing as a giant baseball to pummeling the other team's mouthy mascot, this former fiancee is pulling out all the stops. Trouble is, her ball player refuses to believe she's finally ready to play by his rules.

Stryke hasn't forgiven the woman who left him on their wedding day, but he can't ignore the chemistry that sizzles every time he and Taylor meet. The fireworks between them could light up the ball park, but Stryke won't lose his heart again unless he knows the score. If Taylor steps into his strike zone, she'd better be ready to go past third base and all the way home. 

 

 

Finally the last two books in the series which I have yet to read are Sliding Home and Sweet Spot (which is to be released 5/1/12).   The summary for the story of Sliding Home is:

WHO’D BEEN SLEEPING IN KASON RHODES’S BED? The left fielder for the Richmond Rogues had returned from six weeks of spring training in Florida to find someone had moved into his mobile home. That person was presently in his shower. And no matter how sexy the squatter might be, Kason wanted her out. He had his trusty dobie, Cimarron; he didn’t need anyone else in his life. Not even a stubborn tomboy who roused all kinds of wild reactions in him, then soothed his soul with peace offerings of home-cooked meals and kindness. The bad boy of baseball was ready to play hardball if need be, but with Dayne Sheridan firmly planted between his sheets, he found himself. . .SLIDING HOME

 

 

Now that wraps up my fun summer reading and I plan on moving on to a few more serious reads now that the fall approaches.   Next, I plan on reading Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and then I'm going to watch two of the movies which I rented from Netlix.  I'll be in the process for preparing for the next Dewey 24 hour readathon on October 22.  Happy reading all!

 

Hour 19 update! Finished my second and final book!

My Book Progress:

~Beauty and the Beast  24 pages (Kindle)

~ A Little Princess 186 pages (Kindle)

~ The Secret Garden 214 pages (Kindle)

~ Cinderella 24 pages (Kindle)

~ The Story of Doctor Dolittle 176 pages (Kindle)

~ A Midsummer Night’s Dream 128 pages (Kindle)

~ The Time Machine 104 pages (Kindle)

~ The Invisible Man 208 pages (Kindle)

~ Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 188 pages (Kindle)

~ Stuart Little 131 pages

~ Winnie-the-Pooh 161 pages

~ For One More Day 197 pages

~ The Cat Who Came In From The Cold 107 pages

~ The Bridges of Madison County 171 pages

Total Possible Pages 2,019

I'll post a more detailed blog about the Time Machine at some point on Sunday!  This was fun and hopefully I won't forget the next one!  Yay for April 2011 readathon!

1st Book Finished in Hour 14!

    First book finished!  Finally! So relieved.  Anywho, here is a description of the book:

     From the Publisher

Sara Crewe is a gifted and well-mannered child, and Captain Crewe, her father, is an extraordinary wealthy man. So Miss Minchin, headmistress of Sara's new boarding school in London, is pleased to treat Sara as her star pupil--a pampered little princess.
But suddenly, one dreadful day, Sara's world collapses around her. All of her lovely things are taken from her and she is forbidden to associate with her friends. Her father has died penniless in India.

Miss Minchin can now show her greedy and meanspirited nature to its fullest. The little princess is reduced to a shabby drudge. But Sara does not break, and with the help of a monkey, an Indian lascar, and the strange, ailing gentleman next door, she not only survives her sufferings but help those around her. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Quotes


"Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it."
— Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess)


"Neither do I -- to speak truth. But I suppose there might be good in things, even if we don't see it."
— Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess)


"You are nothing but a doll. Nothing but a doll -- doll -- doll! You care for nothing. You are stuffed with sawdust. You never had a heart. Nothing could ever make you feel. You are a doll!"
— Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess)


My Thoughts


I really enjoyed this book!  It was very touching and I'm so glad that I stuck with it!  It shows that a little girl can be very rich for her age and I enjoyed the journey of it.  Can't wait to start read #2!  

My Book Progress:

~Beauty and the Beast  24 pages (Kindle)

~ A Little Princess 186 pages (Kindle)

~ The Secret Garden 214 pages (Kindle)

~ Cinderella 24 pages (Kindle)

~ The Story of Doctor Dolittle 176 pages (Kindle)

~ A Midsummer Night’s Dream 128 pages (Kindle)

~ The Time Machine 104 pages (Kindle)

~ The Invisible Man 208 pages (Kindle)

~ Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 188 pages (Kindle)

~ Stuart Little 131 pages

~ Winnie-the-Pooh 161 pages

~ For One More Day 197 pages

~ The Cat Who Came In From The Cold 107 pages

~ The Bridges of Madison County 171 pages

Total Possible Pages 2,019

Reading for Charity

After hearing about the fun idea of reading for a good cause, I've decided to participate in the read-a-thon in the name of Milk & Bookies.  
Milk and Bookies is a nationwide charitable organization that inspires children to give back, using books as its currency. 

At Milk + Bookies events, boys and girls are provided the opportunity to select, purchase and Inscribe books that are then donated to their peers who do not have access to books of their own. The fun-filled events feature music, story time and, of course, milk and cookies.

We facilitate these events creating more and more experiences for children to be exposed to giving. Please visit our host-your-own page to read about the M+B class project, M+B birthday party and contact us for information on a book fair at your school. 


Milk + Bookies combines two essential and worthwhile efforts: literacy promotion and service learning. While the book donations are imperative to our mission, just as important is instilling the seed of giving into each host and their young guests, sparking feelings of importance, self-confidence and the desire to give and give again.  

Milk + Bookies was founded in 2004 by Meredith Alexander, a mother of two sons who resides in Los  Angeles. In 2009, Heidi Lindelof and Laura Zimmerman, also L.A. based moms, joined Meredith to help Milk + Bookies grow, all the while maintaining it’s core mission. That same year,  Milk + Bookies was designated a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation.

I will donate $2.50 for every book I finish during the read-a-thon.  If you'd like to pledge along with me, please leave your name and pledge in the comments. If you'd like to support another charity, other read-a-thoners are reading for charity too. You can see the complete list on the Dewey Read-a-thon Blog. 

Thanks to all who help me participate.  I loved this charity because it reminded me of the good old days of going to the library during story time.  I was so excited to find such a wonderful cause and it makes the read-a-thon more exciting!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

     I'm totally excited that it's almost time for this year's Dewey 24 Hour Readathon! I've been preparing by cramming as much reading in as possible over the last few weeks.  The Readathon is taking Place on Saturday, April 9, 2011, and is starting at 8 am in my area.  Last year I participated but struggled to really get as much read because I had other things planned.  This year I'm totally focused on my reading and so far my only excursion is a trip to the gym while I'm reading.

     There's all sorts of fun things to do and get involved in during the readathon.  There are blogs, tweets, and mini challenges.  Already there are about 370 people signed up.  You can sign up as well at http://24hourreadathon.com/.  I got up early last year but only made it until 2am.  I'm hopeful that this year I'll make it further than that.  I'm planning on stocking up on some good snacks to keep me going tomorrow as well as having plenty of caffeinated drinks.  I'll be definitely be participating in the mini-challenges again and maybe I can win some more cool stuff again.  Last year I won two books, wooo hooo!

Here is my list of possible reads that I'm going to try to work from.  I know I may not get to all of them but I'm going to make my best effort.

~ Beauty and the Beast  24 pages (Kindle)

~ A Little Princess 186 pages (Kindle)

~ The Secret Garden 214 pages (Kindle)

~ Cinderella 24 pages (Kindle)

~ The Story of Doctor Dolittle 176 pages (Kindle)

~ A Midsummer Night’s Dream 128 pages (Kindle)

~ The Time Machine 104 pages (Kindle)

~ The Invisible Man 208 pages (Kindle)

~ Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 188 pages (Kindle)

~ Stuart Little 131 pages

~ Winnie-the-Pooh 161 pages

~ For One More Day 197 pages

~ The Cat Who Came In From The Cold 107 pages

~ The Bridges of Madison County 171 pages

Total Possible Pages 2,019

Good luck to everyone participating!  I'll try to keep you updated through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter.  As well as doing the fun mini-challenges on saturday.  Happy reading!