Readathon!

[shanaqui]

Anyone else planning to take part in the twenty-four hour readathon on April 9th? I've just realised I'm meant to be going to a gig that night, but that's not gonna stop me -- I'll use the Kindle app on my ipod to read on the way there, and when there's nothing interesting going on up on the stage!

(I'll be going to see Karine Polwart, if you were curious.)

So, there'll be an element of playing it by ear, for me -- there's no point in dictating entirely what I'm going to read, because I'll just feel rebellious about it. But I am making a bit of a list as guidance for myself, especially since I already make lists for each month, and I'm going to have a bit of awkwardness on the day thanks to the fact that I won't be in the same country as my main bookshelves! (To go to the gig, I'll be going home to my parents' house, argh.)

Anyway, here's my list. If you see anything on here that you think would be a particularly long/difficult read, give me a head's up? I want to be able to arrange my list so I'm reading the easier stuff during the gig and near the end of the 'thon. Not expecting to read all of these, or only these, but if I'm stuck for what to read next, I'll be looking at this list.

-Lois McMaster Bujold, Warrior's Apprentice.
-Octavia Butler, Fledgling.
-Octavia Butler, Bloodchild and Other Stories.
-Bernard Cornwell, Sea Lord.
-Pamela Dean, Tam Lin.
-Michael Ende, The Neverending Story.
-Elizabeth Goudge, The Little White Horse.
-Jack Kerouac, On the Road.
-Stephen King, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
-Josh Lanyon, Don't Look Back.
-Josh Lanyon, The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks.
-Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Anyone got a list they want to share? Any plans?

Comments

[trialia]

Are you starting the Vorkosigan series at TWA? For you particularly, I'd have thought it better to begin with Shards of Honor and Barrayar - I think you'd like Cordelia.

[shanaqui]

I was advised by several other people to do it by starting with TWA! Ha.

[trialia]

Heh. I started with TWA, and I still re-read Shards of Honor and Barrayar more than I ever re-read that one. For what that's worth. Cordelia's my favourite character, and there's much less of her in TWA. If you want the true beginnings, SoH would be the one.

[shanaqui]

Hmmm. I am usually prone to wanting to go from the very beginning, so you are tempting me back to my original decision.

[trialia]

Given how quickly you read, you could get through all three if you really wanted, I guess...

[shanaqui]

D'you think it will be a quick read for me? I've heard conflicting opinions on that, too! The Lois McMaster Bujold books aren't on my April reading list proper, because I don't know yet if I'll want to read them in one go or schedule in a couple of books per month.

[trialia]

It could be, or it could be otherwise. It's in-depth, but not like Silmarillion depth. It's an absorbing book, but not one of the kind you'll struggle to read in under a day.

[shanaqui]

Hmm. That helps, thanks. We'll see!

[afuna]

As someone who was recently introduced to the Vorkosigan series and started with Shards of Honor, +1 to this comment *g*

(And hey you already know that the rest of the series isn't about Cordelia, so moving on to the rest of the books won't be a jolt *g*)

[elleth]

I might be participating again, last time was fun - not sure yet whether I'll have the time, but I'll definitely make a point of reading somewhat more than usual on that day. No definite list yet, but I got Jeanette Winterson's The Stone Gods, Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, Tom Shippey's Road to Middle-earth and the History of Middle-eart Vol. 4 recently and haven't touched them yet, so that would be a good opportunity.

eta: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a great read. It's one of my favourites among King's novels, so would definitely recommend that. :)

And oh, Karine Polwart. ^^

[shanaqui]

I'll be around on MSN on the day, hopefully, so perhaps we'll be able to talk through it again. *grin*

Good to know!

It'll be the first time I've seen her in a couple of years, it'll be so nice to go to one of her gigs again.

[afuna]

It sounds really awesome! I wish I could take part, but I can't do it because it falls into Sunday for me rather than Saturday due to timezone issues. But I hope that everyone who takes part has a wonderful time *grin*

For the books on your list: I've only read the Warrior's Apprentice, and it's a quick read, doesn't drag. Sounds like it (or others in the series) would be a good fit for the readathon.

[shanaqui]

For me it ends up being half Saturday, half Sunday. And, oh god, I'll be on a train for the rest of that Sunday. No sleep for me!

That sounds perfect, yay.

[terabient]

I didn't know about this event - what a fun idea! I'll have to check my schedule to see how much time I can devote to it, but it would be a great way for me to finally make some headway into my book pile. :3

Thanks for the heads up.

[shanaqui]

I did it last year and it was a lot of fun! I think I got eight books read in the day, which was awesome.

[birgitriddle]

Ah man, I'd love to do it like I did before (speaking of, I never did get that book I won in the last one - I need to poke whomever I won it from), but that day my mom and I are planning on going to an alpaca show because alpacas are awesome.

[shanaqui]

I didn't get mine for mooonths, but did in the end. Hmm.

Yay alpacas! Yes, that is a worthier cause.

[martyna]

I seem unable to find what time zone it is in. Since you're base in the UK and say it's half Saturday half Sunday it should be pretty similar for me.
Though, why I hesitate is rather that I will definitely forget about it once that particular weekend comes around...

[shanaqui]

It says on the FAQ page that "April 9, 2011, starting at Noon GMT". Last time it started at 1pm though, so suddenly I'm not sure...

Perhaps I'll post a reminder post that week, if you want!

Thank you for offering

[martyna]

Well, a reminder would definitely help and then I'll see. :)

Re: Thank you for offering

[shanaqui]

Alright, then. I'll try and post the week before and remind everyone!

Re: Thank you for offering

[martyna]

Thank you!

[sweet_sparrow]

If it's organised the same as the times I participated, there should be a spreadsheet with the "When Is Hour X in Your Time Zone?" information in it. It should be here. Unless they complete dislodge the schedule people are used to, the list will either be spot-on or an hour off at maximum, though.

I hope that helps answer your question as well!

TY

[martyna]

Thank you, Shanra!

Re: TY

[sweet_sparrow]

Welcome! ^-^

I think a good amount of people pick start times that suit their needs more effectively, though, if you find that the noonish time doesn't quite work for you as a starting point. ^-^

[sweet_sparrow]

You've read some Butler before, am I remembering that right? Fledgling is pretty heavy on the subject matter, but I found that it read just as fast and easily as her Kindred did for me. I don't see it slowing you down much with that wonderful and enviable reading speed of yours, though. ^-^

The Neverending Story and The Little White Horse are both very fast, very easy reads. (Er, in my opinion.) You might want to consider saving them for later in the evening if you need something quite light and easy.

Hope that helps, hun! You know I'm planning to participate in the Read-a-Thon again, though on a low-key note. I'll try to get some cheerleading done too. I find that the transition from cheerleading into reading makes me happier than trying to read a lot from the start. ^-^ I should... consider putting together a pool of potential reads too...

[shanaqui]

Yep! I've read Kindred and Wild Seed.

That was the plan with those two, yeah. Late at night or at the concert!

Hee.