Reading progress and surveys

[Cathy]

Happy Readthon! I hope Radetzky March will turn out to be a great choice! Dang, it‘s running in a loop in my brain now…

[Lamilla]

The break went so well that it became a dinner :) I walked my dog afterwards and after getting some fresh air went back into reading, just in time for the second reading sprint.

Good progress made on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, though not enough to count for "100 pages straight"

I'm hosting hour 7, and there is some time to chat and read a bit more before it. It seems like everyone is doing pretty well so far, lots on intriguing books mentioned.

I won't be staying late, hopefully will have some more reading in the morning as well

[Lamilla]

Morning here. My plan is to walk my dog and have some breakfast, or at least a cup of tea, and continue with the reading. I think I'm ready for an audiobook

Thank you, Cathy! I'm only on the second chapter of The Radetzky March, so it's too early to tell. The translation is good enough, I can say at least that :)

[Susy]

Lamilla wrote: "Morning here. My plan is to walk my dog and have some breakfast, or at least a cup of tea, and continue with the reading. I think I'm ready for an audiobook"

Sounds good, Lamilla! Good luck with the last 7 hours of the readathon!

[Lamilla]

Thank you, Susy!

I listened for 30 min of an audiobook The End of the World Is Just the Beginning while walking a dog.

With it I got my first bingo line!
https://bingobaker.com/#66156c5a691770fe

The book itself strongly reminds me of the other two I read on a subject: Prisoners of Geography and Guns, Germs, and Steel

[Vavita]

Ooops! I fell asleep! I will continue now!

[Lamilla]

it can happen, Vavita!

I had a good reading morning. Started my German book Der Vorleser and read a good chunk of The Radetzky March. It reminds me Russian classics, like Bunin or Turgenev

[Kate]

Good Morning Lamilla, sounds like you're doing well and well done on the bingo line.

[Lamilla]

That's right, Kate, I had more time to read in the morning than I expected.

I'm continuing with . We are on a part where Harry is obsessed with Draco :) Don't want the book to end.

Come to think of it, I enjoyed my re-reading so much this time, maybe I'll be up to finish book 5 as well.

[Cathy]

Good morning! Sounds like it was a nice readathon for you so far!

[Lamilla]

Good morning to you too, Cathy!

I listened a bit more to The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization. Now I'm on a hunt for a new book for the last reading sprint. Hopefully something engaging, that will keep me entertained for the whole hour (I kept rewinding Peter's audiobook, so easy to get distracted)

[Lamilla]

I spent last reading sprint with Воспоминания великого князя Гавриила Константиновича. I like this series of memoirs from the members of Romanov family. Each book also contains historical note and thourough commentary. I also listened to another chapter of The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization. Peter's interpretation sometimes doesn't agree with facts (example: Cold War and the 90s). I find his youtube videos much more digestible

[Lamilla]

There were no threads for hour 24 in the usual readathon space, so I'll make my wrap up here.

Books read (none of them finished):
, , , and

Bingo board: only 4 squares unchecked, much better than I expected
https://bingobaker.com/#66156c5a691770fe

I participated in most discussions and hosted one hour. I would select an earlier slot next time, I was totally drained at 9 PM

I won't be doing post-readathon lap this time.

[Cynda]

Sounds like you got a lot of reading done at Dewey's--some on serious topics. . . . .I look forward to seeing your thoughts on The End of the World is Just the Beginning.

[Lamilla]

Thank you, Cynda!
I'm glad that your sleep study is done and you're back with us

[Susy]

Lamilla wrote: "There were no threads for hour 24 in the usual readathon space, so I'll make my wrap up here.

Books read (none of them finished):
[bookcover:The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the..."

Sounds good Lamilla! Looks like you had a wonderful readathon.
See you next time!

[Lamilla]

Thank you, Susy! See you

[Cathy]

How far did you get with Radetzky March, do you like it so far?

Until next time!

[Vicki Willis]

Good job on your bingo board. I didn't get to that this time.
Hope to see you at the next one in July.

[Susan]

You made good progress on your reading!

[Lamilla]

Cathy wrote: "How far did you get with Radetzky March, do you like it so far?

Until next time!"
Thank you Cathy!

I finished the first part (out of three). I have a feeling you need the right mood to read it, it's definitely have the feel of a classics book, very subtle and slow-paced. I liked the writing style, all those flowery descriptions, but I'm not sure I'll be continuing with it at the moment...

Vicki Willis wrote: "Good job on your bingo board. I didn't get to that this time.
Hope to see you at the next one in July."
Definitely! I was very lucky with the board - all of my five books fit more than one square plus it had a lot of action-based on, like go outside and have a snack ))

Susan wrote: "You made good progress on your reading!"

Thank you, Susan! I had more time for reading than I expected!

[Lamilla]

Updated the thread title to get in the mood!

[Cynda]

The Readathon we are participating in this weekend also gets me into the mood :)

[Lamilla]

I'm participating in the pre-readathon challenges:

Challenge: All Things Party
Tentative TBR

Level One:
DNF - I've recently finished The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, both books have parties as a start. If I like book 1 and read it quickly, I might proceed with
- memoir of a member of a Royal Family, has coronation and other memorable gatherings
- continuing with my exploration of modern French literature
- continuing with Liu Cixin works

Level Two:
DONE - another book from "School of landscape design" series, now talks how better to arrange flowers in the least sunny areas of your garden to have a beautiful view thoughout the year
DONE - non-fiction on human nature, might shed some light on why we need socializing at all

Challenge: Chinese Medicine Elements

Fire: - deals with developing of oil industry in the end of XIX century
Earth: - also fits party challenge

Water:

[Lamilla]

I've just finished , will use for Fire instead: deals with WWI and Russian Revolution

[Cynda]

Good for you Lamilla! I will start soon.

[Lamilla]

Progress for now:
Read some more from
Started - reminds me , but with better writing

[Cathy]

Educated sounds crazy…

[Lamilla]

I'm continuing with , might finish it over the weekend. I read not long ago. The root of their family suffering is different, but the consequenses are almost identical - abuse, mental and physical issues.

[Lamilla]

I'm almost done with the book, would love to read some fiction from the same author. The narration is really gripping

[Cynda]

Educated made me come to deeper understanding of why early education is important.

[Lamilla]

I finished Ученица. Предать, чтобы обрести себя by Tara Westover. I would recommend this book to others.

Now I'm reading for the Party challenge

[Lamilla]

is a beautiful album. I have another one from the series, , might go for it after finishing this one

[Lamilla]

I'm slowly going through the books for my party challenge. Nothing is finished yet, but I have high hopes for the coming weekend

[Cathy]

I‘m here. I might have some plans to go out with friends on Saturday, but it will be low key.

[Cynda]

I got busy with hurricane season things. The hurricane and its water missed us. I hope best for all in path of storm. . . . Now I am ready to read again. Want to read this weekend at our other group? . . .Cathy and Lamilla. Cathy I do see you have a social event. May he we'll see you some as low key.

[Lamilla]

Yes, that's the plan, Cynda. I'll make a TBR post there

[Cathy]

If I go out on Saturday, it might be a little shopping and dinner with friends. Could be rainy though, in which case I might not meet up with them. We‘ll see.

[Lamilla]

+37 C today, I'm staying home!

Finished and , thus completing part 2 of the Party challenge

[Lamilla]

I had a great reading weekend, thank you, Cynda and Cathy, for the company.

My progress on challenges:
Challenge: All Things Party

Level One:
DNF The Fellowship of the Ring
on hold Воспоминания великого князя Гавриила Константиновича
DONE Искусство терять
О муравьях и динозаврах

Level Two: COMPLETED
DONE Цветник в тени. Неприхотливые растения для вашего сада
DONE Морфология сознания. Том 2.

Challenge: Chinese Medicine Elements

Fire: Битва гигантов. Ротшильды, Рокфеллеры и Нобели DONE
Earth: Цветник в тени. Неприхотливые растения для вашего сада DONE
Water: To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World
Metal: Gallant DONE (or is it Water? lots of talking about Death)
Wood:

[Lamilla]

Now I need two more books for my party challenge.
Candidates:
Я — девушка без истории. Интеллектуальный стендап: как менялись литературные истории от Аристотеля до Умберто Эко - what's better for a party than an invited standup comedian?

Как мы ориентируемся. Пространство и время без карт и GPS - an adventure/science party

13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything - an adventure/science party

Ninth House - college party

I started reading Gallant by V.E.Schwab. It fits Chinese elements topic for Metal as deals with returning home

[Cathy]

I DNFd Gallant in 2022. I didn‘t find the story as such terribly suspenseful, although it is definitely well written. It was too straight forward for me and too predictable. I liked the story, but started to drift off around the middle—there was just not enough tension or interest for me to keep going. Mileage may vary!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lamilla]

I don't quite understand if it's middle grade or ya. The main character is 14, but she behaves younger! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I try to read friends review if they don't contain spoilers. It's a bit like reading together )

[Lamilla]

I finished Gallant. Excellent eerie atmosphere! Cathy, I agree that it is quite straight forward, no intrigue. Still liked it! I wouldn't mind reading more of V.E.Schwab's middle-grade

[Lamilla]

I'm reading Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty. Like all her books it deals with death, so a perfect fit for Water element in pre-readathon challenge

Updated list:

Challenge: All Things Party

Level One:
1. DONE Искусство терять
2. О муравьях и динозаврах
3. DONE Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory - funeral party
4. ...

Level Two: COMPLETED
DONE Цветник в тени. Неприхотливые растения для вашего сада
DONE Морфология сознания. Том 2.

Challenge: Chinese Medicine Elements
DONE Fire: Битва гигантов. Ротшильды, Рокфеллеры и Нобели
DONE Earth: Цветник в тени. Неприхотливые растения для вашего сада
DONE Water: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
DONE Metal: Gallant
Wood: ...

[Cynda]

I have read a couple of Caitlyn Dougherty 's books have watched many of her videos--her YouTube channel and her professional speeches as well. She is such a lovely deathling!

[Lamilla]

I also watched her channel, Cynda (that was the way I got into her books!) I like this one much more than Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? And other Questions about Dead Bodies

The chinese elements challenge grew on me, as well!

[Cynda]

Good! I will keep Smoke Gets in Your Eyes on list of possibilities :)

[Cathy]

Lamilla wrote: "I finished Gallant. Excellent eerie atmosphere! Cathy, I agree that it is quite straight forward, no intrigue. Still liked it! I wouldn't mind reading more of V.E.Schwab's middle-grade"

I also read A Darker Shade of Magic. YA, not middle-grade. It was ok, I gave it three stars. Victoria Schwab is probably not for me.

[Lamilla]

I'm trying to find a match for the last element in the Chinese Elements challenge. The issue is it deals with spring, growth, high spirit and new beginnings, and I'm in the mood for end of life, dying, what happens after death stuff :D