Susan Used to Live on Reader Lane

[Susan]

Leni wrote: "Great book stack! I dig your snacks too, except for the decaf part. ;)"

;). Coffee with breakfast will provide some caffeine. (And I just added coffee gelato which has a real kick to the snack list ;)

[Susan]

Updated meal and snack plan —

Breakfast — almond croissant, coffee, banana, yogurt
Lunch — chicken Caesar sandwich, carrots
Dinner — arugula, fig and chorizo pizza, salad

Snacks — Lemon seltzer, decaf chai tea
Hummus with baby tomatoes, cucumber, and carrots
Lemon biscotti
Coffee gelato
Dove dark chocolate and mint swirled squares

[Ann A]

Looks like you're all set to go, Susan! You've got some great reads there. You can't go wrong with Christie or Du Maurier, and I loved 'Washington Black'. I now have visions of almond croissants and lemon biscotti floating around in my head - YUM.

[Susan]

What a great selection Susan! Enjoy your reading tomorrow.

[Cynda]

Hi Susan. I see you have lemons on your plate too! I made some lemon custard. To Lemons!

[Susy]

Good luck and happy reading Susan!

[Susan]

Ann A wrote: "Looks like you're all set to go, Susan! You've got some great reads there. You can't go wrong with Christie or Du Maurier, and I loved 'Washington Black'. I now have visions of almond croissants an..."

I highly recommend the almond croissants! Only drawback was clouds of powered sugar landing on my navy T-shirt ;). Otherwise — perfectly scrumptious.

[Susan]

Susan wrote: "What a great selection Susan! Enjoy your reading tomorrow."

Thanks, Susan! You, too!

[Susan]

Cynda wrote: "Hi Susan. I see you have lemons on your plate too! I made some lemon custard. To Lemons!"

Nice to see you back, Cynda! Lemon custard sounds wonderful! There’s just something about lemons

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Good luck and happy reading Susan!"

Thanks, Susy! Have a great Readathon!

[Susan]

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Maryland on the East Coast, USA with a beautiful sunny day outside

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
I’m excited about reading The Sandman but delighted that The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier won the starting coin toss since that was my first choice.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? All of them! Ok, maybe the Dove dark chocolate and mint-swirled squares.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself! My reading buddy is a long-legged black, white, and tan pup who will probably spend most of the Readathon sleeping or begging for tastes of treats. (Don’t worry — no chocolate for her.). She’ll also ensure I get outside a few times to enjoy this pretty day.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? This will be a funny Readathon for me since I’m taking an online class hours 3-8 so won’t really be able to settle down to reading until this afternoon. And I signed up to do a mini-challenge on FB and Twitter for hour 10, which should be fun. Time for me to get to “work” reading!

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "Susy wrote: "Good luck and happy reading Susan!"

Thanks, Susy! Have a great Readathon!"

Thank you! :D

[Jamie]

mm Chocolate is always high on my eating list too!

Hope you have a great reading day!

[Susan]

Jamie wrote: "mm Chocolate is always high on my eating list too!

Hope you have a great reading day!"

Hope you do, too, Jamie, hopefully with chocolate ;)

[Susan]

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? The Scapegoat

2. How many books have you read so far? I’ve read nine short stories by Clarice Lispector for my weekend class and to be able to use the unusual cover for Bingo ;)

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? The Scapegoat. It’s just getting interesting.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
I was in an online class most of the day, which was great but did occur in my prime reading hours. I just had some coffee gelato which I hope will kickstart my evening reading.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How quickly it is “zooming” by!

[Ann A]

Zooming by indeed! Hope you get some quality evening reading in. The fact you are really into your book should help!

[Susan]

Ann A wrote: "Zooming by indeed! Hope you get some quality evening reading in. The fact you are really into your book should help!"

Thanks, Ann! I’m really enjoying The Scapegoat. We’ll see how far I get ;)

[Susan]

I took a break from The Scapegoat to sample The Sandman — wow! so creative and scary. But now I’m going to take The Scapegoat and do some reading in bed. I don’t know how long I’ll last, but I should be able to check off another Bingo square or two....

[Jamie]

Susan wrote: "I took a break from The Scapegoat to sample The Sandman — wow! so creative and scary. But now I’m going to take The Scapegoat and do some reading in bed. I don’t know how long I’ll last, but I shou..."

Ooh, I still need to read the Sandman. If it is scary, maybe it will be good for the October readathon. I hope have had/are having a great time with your books. Always great to end it snuggled in bed!

[Susan]

Jamie wrote: "Susan wrote: "I took a break from The Scapegoat to sample The Sandman — wow! so creative and scary. But now I’m going to take The Scapegoat and do some reading in bed. I don’t know how long I’ll la..."

I was surprised how scary the three tales I read were — Neil Gaiman writes in an afternote they were inspired by classic British horror stories and horror comics. I think it would work great for the fall!

[Susan]

I fit in some more reading this morning. Not my best Readathon in terms of reading (178 pages) or Bingo (10 squares, no Bingos) , but I enjoyed everything I read and had fun running a mini-challenge on Twitter/FB on bookshelf menageries. I’ve got to go get ready for a class this morning, so will come back this afternoon to do my close out summary and finish up. Hope you all had fun reading this time and see you next time! *Re-added page total because I left out one chapter of Sandman I read = 202 pages

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "I fit in some more reading this morning. Not my best Readathon in terms of reading (178 pages) or Bingo (10 squares, no Bingos) , but I enjoyed everything I read and had fun running a mini-challeng..."

I didn’t even do the bingo or any of the challenges but didn’t read as much time as last Dewey’s....

Looking forward to your update!

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Susan wrote: "I fit in some more reading this morning. Not my best Readathon in terms of reading (178 pages) or Bingo (10 squares, no Bingos) , but I enjoyed everything I read and had fun running a..."

I hope you enjoyed your Readathon, Susy, even if it was more limited in reading time. See you next time, I hope!

[Susan]

Closing Survey

How would you assess your reading overall?
— Because I was in a weekend class then ended up feeling a bit subpar, I read much less than I usually do (200 pages vs 500 pages) and I didn’t complete any books. I missed having a whole day (or most of one) to read.
—But I enjoyed everything I did read.
.
Did you have a stategy, and if so, did you stick to it?
—This time I did best reading in the late afternoon and evening when I had a stretch of time to get absorbed. I did fit in some reading earlier, but it was squeezed in. I had hoped for 6-7 hours of reading, but got in closer to 4-5.

What was your favorite snack?
— Lemon biscotti. Favorite food was definitely the almond croissants for breakfast — so good!

Wanna volunteer for our next event? Stay tuned for the recap post!
—I’m already looking forward to the reverse Readathon! I might volunteer to write a blog post or something that can be done in advance.

My reading:
The Collected Stories of Clarice Lispector —In one story, a chicken escapes from the kitchen, in another, a woman sees her mother off at the train station, and in others, a young woman’s relationship is interrupted in an unexpected way, a woman goes to the zoo to study anger, a little girl loves her pets too much, an elderly woman is sent on a trip, and a woman’s groceries are damaged on a train ride. These stories go places you would never expect in ways that subtly subvert our day to day experiences and relationships.

The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman — Students of the occult try to capture the mythical figure Death but catch someone else with surprising and horrifying consequences as the story plays out. Absolutely brilliant (and scary)

The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier - A British tourist in France meets his double and is forced to/given an opportunity to trade places and change his life.

Poems New and Collected by Wislawa Szymborska — Wonderful

[Ann A]

Everything you read sounds great, Susan. I say quality over quantity wins out! Glad you were able to get in a decent amount of participation, even though you were busy and not feeling great besides. I'm slotting 'The Scapegoat' for the October readathon right now - nothing wrong with starting my spreadsheet a little early ;)

[Susan]

Ann A wrote: "Everything you read sounds great, Susan. I say quality over quantity wins out! Glad you were able to get in a decent amount of participation, even though you were busy and not feeling great besides..."

Thanks, Ann! The Scapegoat has lots of suspense, perfect for the fall!

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "I hope you enjoyed your Readathon, Susy, even if it was more limited in reading time. See you next time, I hope!..."

I sure did Susan! All in all, after adding up all the numbers, I did better than I'd thought. And on top of that my reading buddy and I rented a small house in the woods (well, there was less woods than we'd thought lol, but great to be out of your own home for a couple of days) and had a wonderful time.
You will definitely see me next time :D

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "Closing Survey

How would you assess your reading overall?
— Because I was in a weekend class then ended up feeling a bit subpar, I read much less than I usually do (200 pages vs 500 pages) and I d..."

Ooh, I finished the Sandman series during the readathon!
Glad to hear you enjoyed everything you read!

[Elyse]

Great job, Susan, even if other things got in the way. I really need to start reading Sandman. lol. I even own the first 2 volumes!

[Susan]

A lot of love for The Sandman! If you like horror, they are just the thing.

[Susan]

I’m really looking forward to the Reverse Readathon next month. It could change, but right now I’m thinking beachy summer reads and lemonade ;).

[Susan]

I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for dinner with fresh corn. Maybe, a fan for a breeze.

Starting my list of possible reads:

Just One Damned Thing After Another, Jodi Taylor (fantasy)(Kindle)
The Lark, E. Nesbit (fiction)(Kindle)
The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer (fiction)(Kindle)
The Thin Man, Dashell Hammett (mystery)
Travels of Marco Polo (non-fiction)

Audiobooks —
The Real Sherlock, Lucinda Hawksley (2 hrs, 5 mins)

Women in Translation —
Secondhand Time, Svetlana Alexievich (non-fiction)
Natalia Ginsburg (novella)
Acrobat, (poetry)

Snack ideas:
—strawberries, watermelon, peaches
—Fisher’s popcorn
—hummus and veggies (carrots, pea pods, and grape tomatoes)
—lemon seltzer, iced tea

[Elyse]

Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for dinner with fres..."

Sounds wonderful!

[Avid Reader and Geek Girl]

Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for dinner with fres..."

That sounds like a great idea!

[Susan]

Elyse wrote: "Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for di..."

Can you tell I miss the beach? Oh, well, fun to dream about it ;), and I like the idea of “beach” reads for a change of pace.

[Susan]

Avid Reader and Geek Girl wrote: "Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for di..."

I’m sure having fun planning it ;).

[Kelley]

Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for dinner with fres..."

i love the idea of a theme for the readathon from books to food to background noise!

[Susan]

Kelley, Sometimes a bit of a twist is fun, and I definitely miss the beach ;)

[Susy]

Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for dinner with fres..."

Cool! 🏖

[Susan]

Susy wrote: "Susan wrote: "I’m getting into the Idea of a “day at the beach” readathon for me with “beachy reads”, a CD of ocean sounds, Fisher’s popcorn and fresh fruit for snacks, burgers or crab cakes for di..."
Thanks, Susy! And I won’t need the sun tan lotion ;)

[Kelley]

Susan wrote: "Thanks, Susy! And I won’t need the sun tan lotion ;)"

an added perk!

[Susy]

😂👍🏻👍🏻

[Cynda]

Great minds think alike--or at least similarly--as I am planning ti spend sometime at a not-noiseless school/city library combo. More of a satellite library. There are about 6 cozy oversized chairs with chargers built into armrests that I may snuggle up into. . . .Enjoy!

[Susan]

Kelley wrote: "Susan wrote: "Thanks, Susy! And I won’t need the sun tan lotion ;)"

an added perk!"

No sand everywhere either ;)

[Susan]

Cynda wrote: "Great minds think alike--or at least similarly--as I am planning ti spend sometime at a not-noiseless school/city library combo. More of a satellite library. There are about 6 cozy oversized chairs..."

Susy wrote: "😂👍🏻👍🏻"

That must be a great place to read, Cynda. Those cozy chairs sound very tempting!

[Susan]

I’ve ordered some Fisher’s caramel popcorn (a Maryland seaside tradition) and am thinking some more about my reading pile. I just got a copy of Great Circle by Maggie Shipton which has been described as perfect summer reading, so that’s on my to-read list, too. And maybe some poetry for variety. Hard to believe the readathon is barely a week away!

[Elyse]

Susan wrote: "I’ve ordered some Fisher’s caramel popcorn (a Maryland seaside tradition) and am thinking some more about my reading pile. I just got a copy of Great Circle by Maggie Shipton which has been describ..."

Yes very hard to believe!! lol. I'm not prepared!

[Susan]

Elyse wrote: "Susan wrote: "I’ve ordered some Fisher’s caramel popcorn (a Maryland seaside tradition) and am thinking some more about my reading pile. I just got a copy of Great Circle by Maggie Shipton which ha..."

I know what you mean! How can it be just a week away!

[Avid Reader and Geek Girl]

Susan wrote: "I’ve ordered some Fisher’s caramel popcorn (a Maryland seaside tradition) and am thinking some more about my reading pile. I just got a copy of Great Circle by Maggie Shipton which has been describ..."

that sounds yummy!

[Susan]

Just realized I made a mistake on the date. I thought the Reverse Readathon started tomorrow night instead of tonight 8/6! Good thing I’m organized early for once ;). I should be all set!

Books Packed for a day at the (virtual) beach:

Dragon Teeth, Michael Crichton (fiction)
The Thin Man, Dashell Hammett (mystery)
The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer (fiction)(Kindle)
Great Circle, Maggie Shipton (fiction)
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson (children’s) (Kindle)
The Spy on Putney Bridge, David Fitz-Enz (spy)
The Boy, Tami Hoag (mystery)
Valentino and Sagittarius, Natalia Ginzburg (novellas)
Acrobat, Nabaneeta Dev Sen (poetry)
Deaf Republic, Ilya Kaminsky (poetry)

Audiobooks —
The Real Sherlock, Lucinda Hawksley (2 hrs, 5 mins)
Beowulf, Anonymous, read by Seamus Heaney (2 hrs, 13 mins)

[I don’t expect to read all these, just like to have choices]

Snack ideas:
—cherries, peaches, cantaloupe (if it’s ripe in time).
—hummus and veggies (pea pods, carrots, and grape tomatoes)
—Fisher’s popcorn
—lemon seltzer, iced tea/lemonade combo
—vanilla ice cream with orange sherbet

Meal ideas
—blueberry bagel, banana, coffee
—tuna salad
—crab cakes or burger with fresh corn for dinner

bully stick for Jaxie