Susan Used to Live on Reader Lane

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Same here, Susan! Midnight hour has come and gone so time for me to escape to Dreamland instead of books for a bit.

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "Yesterday has caught up with me, and I’m going to crawl under the covers with my audiobook (The Surgeon’s Mate by Patrick O’Brian). I give myself 10 minutes before I’m sound asleep. More books ahea..."

Hope you'll have a good night's rest!

[Susy]

Halfway through already! Hope you rest well and feel energetic for the second part of the readathon Susan!

[Susan]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Same here, Susan! Midnight hour has come and gone so time for me to escape to Dreamland instead of books for a bit."

Hope you got some good rest and have a great day’s reading today!

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Halfway through already! Hope you rest well and feel energetic for the second part of the readathon Susan!"

Thanks, Susy! I’m rested and ready to jump back into my reads. Hope you’re having a good days reading, too

[Susan]

Half-Point Survey

How many books have you been reading? Have you finished any? I’ve got two books underway for the Readathon plus my ongoing audiobook: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg, and The Surgeon’s Mate by Patrick O’Brian.

Are you on track with respect to your readathon goals so far? Yes, I’m enjoying my reading.

What was your favorite food or beverage so far? My morning coffee in the big cup that says “Never underestimate a well-read woman.”

Are you growing sleepy? Do you plan to nap, or stop early, or are you extending the readathon hours to include sleep? Yup, I slept last night, the better to read today ;)

5 senses check-in- What are you seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling now? I’m seeing and touching the screen of my iPad as I answer these questions, I can hear my dog enjoying chewing on her bone again after two weeks in the dreaded cone, and I’m sipping coffee.

Now, I need to get back to the Readathon

[Vicki Willis]

Same here about the sleep thing. Otherwise I find myself reading the same page over and over.

[Cynda]

I stand in agreement with your coffee mug!
Enjoy the rest of your Readathon.

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "Susy wrote: "Halfway through already! Hope you rest well and feel energetic for the second part of the readathon Susan!"

Thanks, Susy! I’m rested and ready to jump back into my reads. Hope you’re ..."

Good to hear! Here's to our last 5.5 hours!

[Susan]

Vicki Willis wrote: "Same here about the sleep thing. Otherwise I find myself reading the same page over and over."

Exactly! I find myself starting to nod off anyhow

[Susan]

Cynda wrote: "I stand in agreement with your coffee mug!
Enjoy the rest of your Readathon."

I did! Hope you enjoyed your Readathon too

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Susan wrote: "Susy wrote: "Halfway through already! Hope you rest well and feel energetic for the second part of the readathon Susan!"

Thanks, Susy! I’m rested and ready to jump back into my reads..."

Hard to believe it’s over! Hope you enjoyed your reading

[Susan]

Closing Survey

How many books did you read during this readathon? Did you have any favorites? I read three — One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg, and The Surgeon’s Mate by Patrick O’Brian (audiobook).

How many books did you finish? Two: One Italian Summer and The Dry Heart

Did you accomplish your goals for this readathon? Yes and no. I enjoyed my reading, did a couple sprints, and had time to visit on social media plus sleep. But I never got over to Discord to check it out and I’d hoped to read a little more than I did.

How did your snacks and meals work out? Are there things you would change about the food and beverages side of your readathon for next time? I had to change things around a bit when I discovered the tuna fish for lunch had expired over 6 months ago! It was fine though.

Did you enjoy this readathon? What was the most successful part of your readathon? What would you change for next time? I enjoyed spending time reading and seeing what other readers were reading. Next time, I’d like to check out Discord.

Will you be continuing your readathon reading past the end of our official readathon? Not this time. I’m looking forward to starting a library book that just came in — The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear, and of course I’m always reading :)

[Cynda]

Too bad about the tuna. Glad you had options. . . .Enjoy The White.Lady . . . See you next time!

[Vicki Willis]

Yes, good idea about Discord. I need to look into that as well.
See you at the next one!

[Susy]

Discord is fun. Though I do like that we have our own threads here, it’s easier to “visit” someone.

Sounds like you had a great readathon, Susan!
See you in October hopefully!

[Ann A]

Oooh, Jacqueline Winspear has created a new heroine? Masie Dobbs is such fun. I'll have to check out The White Lady.

I hope you and Jaxie enjoyed your reading day in the Italian villa. :)
See you in October!

[Susan]

Cynda wrote: "Too bad about the tuna. Glad you had options. . . .Enjoy The White.Lady . . . See you next time!"

The White Lady is off to a great start! See you in the fall

[Susan]

Vicki Willis wrote: "Yes, good idea about Discord. I need to look into that as well.
See you at the next one!"

Maybe I’ll check Discord out before the next Readathon actually starts to get prepared ;). See you in the fall!

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Discord is fun. Though I do like that we have our own threads here, it’s easier to “visit” someone.

Sounds like you had a great readathon, Susan!
See you in October hopefully!"

That’s good to hear about Discord! Sounds like it won’t be replacing Goodreads, just adding to the options.

Hope to see you next time!

[Susan]

Ann A wrote: "Oooh, Jacqueline Winspear has created a new heroine? Masie Dobbs is such fun. I'll have to check out The White Lady.

I hope you and Jaxie enjoyed your reading day in the Italian villa. :)
See yo..."

I really enjoy Maisie Dobbs, but am all caught up ;). The White Lady is off to a good start. It may be a standalone; I’m not sure

Jaxie and I had fun and even enjoyed a little Italian music in the background. Hope to see you next time!

[Susan]

Update: I found my copy of Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter and plan to read it this summer, so nohtadaeR Italian fun will continue after all :).

[Cynda]

Beautiful Ruins looks sooo good. I will look for your review, if you wrote one. It will be on list of possibilities for 2024 taking suggestions from friends list.

See you here soon!

[Susan]

Hi, Cynda, Beautiful Ruins does look great and has lots of good reviews. But it’s still sitting on my TBR ;). Maybe next time will be the charm! See you soon for the Readathon!

[Susan]

Where has the time gone? But I’m ready! More or less! See you Saturday ;)

[Susy]

Indeed Susan! I'm not prepared at all yet!
See you Saturday!

[Susan]

As long we’ve got something to read, we’re good! See you soon, Susy

[Ann A]

Looking forward to your stack, Susan. I'm hoping you'll add Beautiful Ruins. Can't wait for Saturday!

[Vicki Willis]

Ready or not! Right?

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Looking forward to seeing you again for the read-a-thon!

[Susan]

Ann A wrote: "Looking forward to your stack, Susan. I'm hoping you'll add Beautiful Ruins. Can't wait for Saturday!"

I’m really behind this time, Ann, but looking forward to it. Unless my plans change, Beautiful Ruins will have to wait for the next time. Too many good books! Almost time to start reading!

[Susan]

Vicki Willis wrote: "Ready or not! Right?"

Lol, Vicki. You’ve got that right! Look forward to reading with you this weekend!

[Susan]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Looking forward to seeing you again for the read-a-thon!"

Yay! Looking forward to a day of reading. I might even go for the whole weekend ;). See you soon at the Readathon!

[Susan]

**Book Choice Ideas**

For the fall, my usual theme is mystery and suspense. This time I’m also planning to browse some books of essays. Way too many books on my list, but I might just make it a whole weekend of reading ;)

The Unquiet Grave, Sharyn McCrumb (mystery)
The Man in the Brown Suit, Agatha Christie (mystery)
Earth and High Heaven, Gwethalyn Graham (fiction)
Shadows of Childhood, Elisabeth Gille (autobiographical novel)
Settler’s Tales, Porarinn Eldjarn (short stories)
Karain: A Memory, Joseph Conrad (short story)
Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (children’s)
Demon Voices: On Stories and Storytelling, Philip Pullman (essays)
Junk Shop Window, James Patterson (essays)
An Anthology, Paul Valery (essays and poetry)
View with a Grain of Sand, Wislawa Szymborska (poetry)
The Secret Letters of Madame de Stael, Grace Cavalieri (poetry)

Library
A Florence Diary, Diana Athill (travel memoir)
The Little Virtues, Natalia Ginzburg (essays)

Audiobook:
Carmilla, Sheridan LeFanu (horror) (2 hrs, 17 mins)
Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe (1 hr, 38 minutes) (library)
Assorted Sherlock Holmes stories, Arthur Conan Doyle

[Susan]

Meal Ideas:

Breakfast —
apple cider donuts
banana
coffee

Lunch —
turkey and cheese sandwich
carrots, celery

Dinner —
leftover beef onion stew
salad

Snack Ideas:
San Pellegrino lemon seltzer
celery sticks, carrot slices
chocolate chip rice cakes
Rice Krispie marshmallow bars
Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice sandwich cookies
Dewey’s Bakery Meyer lemon cookies

Snack for Jaxie — bully stick

[Cynda]

Apple cider donuts sound good, Susan. I am guessing the main point would be that the donuts taste sweeter than beer batter donuts. . . .

[Susan]

Cynda wrote: "Apple cider donuts sound good, Susan. I am guessing the main point would be that the donuts taste sweeter than beer batter donuts. . . ."

Hmm. I’ve never had beer batter donuts, so I can’t compare. Apple cider might be a bit tarter than beer? I’ll see Saturday ;)

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Susan wrote: "Yay! Looking forward to a day of reading. I might even go for the whole weekend ;). See you soon at the Readathon!
.."

If you do, can keep me company again :D

I don't think I've had Apple Cider Donuts either

[Elyse]

Book list looks comprehensive! I listened to Carmilla for a Dewey's a few years ago. I enjoyed it but regretted speeding up the audio. It's so short, it's really not wise to speed it up and chance missing something! lol.

Oh yum apple cider donuts! I've had them twice this autumn from different places. I probably won't have them again! A local baker makes cinnamon-sugar coated ones and plain "old fashioned" ones and they're both so good. And my brother went to an orchard near our hometown and gave me one for babysitting his kiddos. lol. I've never had a bad apple cider donut!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Do they taste like cider or vinegary? Are they cooked the same way as regular donuts, just less sweet?

[Elyse]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Do they taste like cider or vinegary? Are they cooked the same way as regular donuts, just less sweet?"

They're baked with apple cider, not apple cider vinegar. So they're sweetish if you have one with cinnamon-sugar coating but not overly. They're more apple-y.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Hm, wonder if it's more common in certain regions. Surely they are around here in central Florida near me some place. I'll have to keep an eye out as you both have me curious now

[Susan]

Susan wrote: "Meal Ideas:

Breakfast —
apple cider donuts
banana
coffee

Lunch —
turkey and cheese sandwich
carrots, celery

Dinner —
leftover beef onion stew
salad

Snack Ideas:
San Pellegrino lemon seltze..."

I'm getting seriously hungry reading your possible menu! Apple cider donuts sound especially good.

[Susan]

Susan wrote: "**Book Choice Ideas**

For the fall, my usual theme is mystery and suspense. This time I’m also planning to browse some books of essays. Way too many books on my list, but I might just make it a wh..."

Number the Stars is the perfect readathon option. I love this book.

[Ann A]

I'm not a big donut gal, but I like everything on your snack list :) Hope you get a good night's sleep. See you tomorrow!

[Susy]

Happy readathon, Ann!

[Cynda]

The End of the Affair! There is a movie version too which tells a good story, but the novel reveals so much more--as often is the case.

[Susan]

Gosh, I’m running a bit slow this morning so I just dived into reading and never did my opening survey. Oops

Opening Event Survey:

1) What part of the world are you reading from today?
Central Maryland where the leaves are just starting to change colors

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? This is always a tough question. Maybe The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb, maybe The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg, maybe Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

3) Which snacks are you most looking forward to? Rice Krispie bars and Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice cookies

4) Tell us a little something about yourself! Hmm. I love to read a mix of things, but for the fall Readathon, I indulge myself with mysteries/suspense. I have one Agatha Christie full-length mystery left to read, and it’s in my list for this time. My little reading buddy is Jaxie pup (see profile picture for a look at her cute face) and she is already hinting it’s time for lunch.

5) What are your goals for this readathon? To have a good time reading all day in good company!

[Susan]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Susan wrote: "Yay! Looking forward to a day of reading. I might even go for the whole weekend ;). See you soon at the Readathon!
.."

If you do, can keep me company again :D

I don't think I've had..."

I think apple cider donuts are a seasonal thing, around here anyway. I’d never heard of them until a few years ago so they may be new, at least in my area

[Susan]

Elyse wrote: "Book list looks comprehensive! I listened to Carmilla for a Dewey's a few years ago. I enjoyed it but regretted speeding up the audio. It's so short, it's really not wise to speed it up and chance ..."

Thanks for the tip re Carmilla. I’ll stick to regular speed.

I’m not sure this was an authentic apple cider donut. The label says “apple cider donuts,” but I checked the ingredients this morning, and neither apples or cider are listed (!) though cinnamon is