Lena's Read-a-Thon Home (October 2025)

[D.L.]

Hope you have a great RAT!

[Lamilla]

Glad to see you back, Lena!

[Lena]

My TBR (possibles) List for the October 2025 Read-a-Thon is:

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Fun list! Hope you have a great read--a-thon

[D.L.]

All those reads look great! Happy RAT!

[Elyse]

Lena wrote: "My TBR (possibles) List for the October 2025 Read-a-Thon is:

..."

Our Wives was pretty wild for such a small book! Definitely good readathon material! I want to catch up on Matt Haig and Ashley Poston backlogs! I haven't read either of the ones you've listed by them.

[Lena]

Elyse wrote: "Lena wrote: "Our Wives was pretty wild for such a small book! Definitely good readathon material!..."

That is great to hear! I was hoping to get some unique choices and yet tried to pick shorter/smaller books this read-a-thon to try to spur my motivation and momentum.

[Lena]

I am really trying to focus on the Sprints this year. I always get distracted throughout the read-a-thon and end up doing household and family stuff and frittering away my reading time. So THIS year I am trying to literally "drop everything and read" for each sprint. And then I can wonder off and do other stuff as I see fit in between (or continue reading of course) in between. BUT the sprints are my way to focus back on the reading!

For the first sprint I read the entire hour and completed 38 Pages out of my first book

[Lena]

I am a little late in filling this out, but wanted to go ahead and do so

1. How many Dewey's Readathons have you participated in?
I am not sure of the exact number, but my first Dewey's was in October of 2016 and I've tried to participate every April and October since then and also occasionally join in for the reverse read-a-thons in July and January.

2a. If this is not your first Dewey's Readathon, what are your favorite things from past Dewey's readathons? Are you trying anything new or different this time?
I love the discussion topics and getting to see what everyone is reading, the wide variety of snacks everyone enjoys and even getting to see picks of readers' furbabies/reading companions.
I am a mood reader, so I rarely finish more than 1 book during a Dewey's. Plus I tend to get distracted by my kid, our furbaby or just life in general. So for this read-a-thon I am trying TWO new ideas. First off, for my TBR possibles I selected shorter books. I think seeing my "quick progress" through shorter books may act as motivation and build my momentum. And I am focusing on the Sprints. Those are my literal "drop everything and read" times during this read-a-thon. No matter what, I plan to stop what I am doing and pick up my book and read for the solid hour. I've even told my daughter I am not to be interrupted during those specific hours unless she is bleeding or the house is on fire. The time in between sprints I am free to read as well, but won't feel guilty if I mosey around with household chores, get online to answer questions or take a quick nap, etc.

2b. What are your goals, and what are you looking forward to during this Readathon? I don't really have any goals. I would like to finish at least 3 books, but it is a strong goal. I am behind on my yearly Goodreads Goal by 3 books so I'd like to "catch up"

3. What are you looking forward to eating and drinking during this Readathon? I always have my bag of Almond M&Ms every read-a-thon for sure. And my coffee. Due to health reasons my doctor put me on a more restrictive diet and both of those are splurges for me right now. So my other snacks are healthier and less sugar intense.

4. Are you sticking to our official Readathon times or adjusting for your schedule/preferences/etc.? I stick to the normal times, but I don't read the entire 24 hours straight and rest as needed. I am too old to stay awake for that long now without suffering the consequences for days afterward.

5. Where are you reading from today? Amarillo, Texas, USA

[Elyse]

I did not get my normal peanut M&M's. Having a toddler means obsessing over manufactured food dyes and the good stuff has the bad stuff lol. I usually do all of the sprints, I just don't necessarily do them at the correct times! I may be an hour later or start one a little earlier. But to just sit and read for an hour is quite nice.

[Lena]

Elyse wrote: "I did not get my normal peanut M&M's. Having a toddler means obsessing over manufactured food dyes and the good stuff has the bad stuff lol. I usually do all of the sprints, I just don't necessaril..."

My daughter is a teen now so it is a constant battle to monitor junk food. lol My almond M&Ms are my read-a-thon only snack. I don't buy them the rest of the year. In fact, my teen decided she was going to back cupcakes this morning for an outing with her friends later today.

To try to be more health this year I got some carrots, cucumbers and apples cut up to snack on. Some pistachios (which I had never tried before and discovered just now I love). Some popcorn. And I have shredded chicken in the slow cooker for sandwiches.

[Lena]

Questions asked by another Reader on the Read-a-Thon's Facebook Page:

1) Will you be reading from home? If not, are you traveling somewhere specifically for the Readathon? I will be reading from home.

2) Is anyone else going to be reading with you in person? My daughter may join me part of the time this evening. However, most of the day it will be just me and the cat.

3) Do you have food and drink planned and acquired? Coffee and my Almond M&Ms are always a must for read-a-thons. I also have some carrots, cucumbers and apples cut up for snacking. And some popcorn and chips & salsa for later. And for a "meal" I have shredded chicken cooking in the slow cooker for sandwiches later.

4) Do you have a TBR planned or are you winging it. I always make a TBR possibles pile. I may on a whim decide to pick up something from my shelves not on the pile, but it helps me to have a starting point. This time I tried to put shorter books on my pile in the hopes it will help with my momentum.