2021 Read-a-Thon #1: Kick-Off

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

It’s time to start our first read-a-thon of 2021!

The event runs from when you wake up on Saturday, February 13 until you go to sleep on Sunday, February 21. The goal is to read as much as you can and to have tons of fun. It's 9 full days of books and games. Feel free to participate in as few or as many games as you like.

We’ll be posting a game roughly every day, and there is a Team Challenge. It’s not too late to sign up for the team challenge if you want.

There's also a great Individual Challenge, if that's more your speed (or if you need the extra challenge)!

So let’s kick off this read-a-thon with some questions, and don’t forget to keep coming back to the read-a-thon folder throughout the week.

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!

Be sure to check in to the progress thread to update us on your reading throughout the week!

[Roxana]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I have a much more specific TBR list for this readathon than I normally do, and it's mostly arcs, so I'd really like to complete those without getting distracted by other books!

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I just started Yesterday Is History today, in advance of the readathon beginning, and I'm loving it so far, so I'm excited to continue. A Chorus Rises and Phoenix Flame are both sequels to books I loved, and both upcoming arcs, so I'm excited to read them AND need to get them reviewed soon.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? Both!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home. Pandemic ;) might take the audiobook out for a walk around the block sometimes, too.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week?
Well, my sister had a baby today? So that's been a bit of a thing? We'll see how much it actually affects my reading, though. (I mean, *I* didn't just have a baby...)

[Sherri]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? To finish 4-5 books
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? I will finish my current read Octavia's Brood then I don't know. I'm using all black authors for black history month.
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? This is my first year trying both
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? Sofa or bed
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! I'm moving my mother from one assisted living to another one during COVID. Never do that.

[Sue]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Just to read more books
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I have SUCH a huge tbr pile, so am picking the shorter ones as well as the AtY books due this week - I am reading in order and in the correct week for the AtY challenge, so others are for the Popsugar challenge
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? Both
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? At home - in bed or on the couch. I might download an audiobook as well for when I'm driving/walking
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
I have had nothing on for weeks, but this week I have several events that will affect time available for reading, and it's very hot here so I will have to spend time every day watering my large garden (water restrictions mean no sprinklers).

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I'm a bit behind this month so really I just want to get a bunch of reading done.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer took a very patronizing, corny teen lit turn while I was reading last night but I'm still interested in the story so I'm interested in finishing it.

I have a lot of loans out right now, many of them ones I had on hold for a long time. Since Anxious People has technically expired and I only have it by being in airplane mode, I'll probably read that one next. Some standouts for after that:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
The Project by Courtney Summers
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Searcher by Tana French

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Team Daisy!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
Likely the couch. I also have a new daybed so may mix it up there.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
I started providing consults for Teladoc (yay pandemic mental health needs...) so my schedule is pretty full now.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I'm working my way through some books I set aside for Black History Month, so I think I'd like to finish 4 or 5 of those. I'm not feeling super inspired by my TBR, though, so we will see... I keep putting books on hold at the library as if expanding the amount of books I have at home will help anything lol.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I am really not enjoying All Boys Aren't Blue, but I'm 65% through so I really want to finish that one up sooner rather than later. I think part of my funk is that it's hanging over my head.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Team Tulip! Also set up a grid on the individual challenge but we will see if I keep up with it.

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home! In my red chair probably.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
I'm so glad we picked this week because I am off of work all week for Mardi Gras! Not that Mardi Gras is happening this year, but between being off all week and the cold front coming through tonight, I'm set up for success.

[Sandra]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I want to finish a few of the books I'm currently reading.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I'm dying to finish The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as I really want to know how it ends.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Both

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
In my bedroom

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
Well, I work 9 to 6 during the week so that's what stands in the way of my reading haha

[Jill]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? To read as much as I can! 😊
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? I am excited to read Nick, an imagined prequel to The Great Gatsby which is one of my favorite books,
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? Both
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? At home once I get back there tomorrow, I am currently in Arizona visiting my mom but will be driving back to California tomorrow.
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! I have been on vacation for two weeks so I two weeks worth of work to catch up on when I go back to work on Tuesday,

[Kim]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? 4-5 print books, 1 long audio book
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, and Love all fulfill other challenge requirements, so those for sure.
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? Both
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? At home

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Nope!

[Johanne]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Read as much as possible. Have fun with the team challenge.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Well, I have three books I'm currently reading. Then I have a long book and plan to mix it up with shorter reads.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Yes, the team challenge. Go sunflowers!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home on the sofa and in bed. Some audio while doing housework.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
Not a lot. We're in lockdown in Denmark, so I'm working from home most days atm (I'm a librarian), and I'm off work thursday and friday. My youngest and middle son are remote learning, but they have a school holiday, so I don't have the added stress of helping my youngest (12) with his school work (mainly mental support, he hates remote learning).

In short I expect it to be a good reading week!

[Kathy]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Read and listen to books!

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Finish: The Poet X, The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here, Little Beach Street Bakery, The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores and The Turn of the Key

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Both

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home in various places.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
Not really! A bit of work from home.

[°~Amy~°]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I am going to try to finish the one book I am currently reading and then read at least 4 other 100-200 page books

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Not dying to, but am looking forward to finishing Generations tonight.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Individual Challenge, shooting for all the yellow hearts!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
In bed mostly

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
I have a swollen disk in my neck that is annoying me. If I can get comfortable, I can read, if not.....ugh. I should be able to figure something out though. Time to call the chiropractor I guess.

[Nancy]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? Finish the two books in progress (I already did finished one, I somehow missed the kick-off thread before now), plus potentially 3-4 more.
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? Half of a Yellow Sun, it's good but slow going.
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? Yes, both.
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? Most of it will be audio, otherwise on my Kindle, either on the couch or in bed.
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! Can you tell my boss to give me a few days off?! Other than work and chores, there's nothing really in the way.

[Samantha]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? Just having fun the challenge, the game and getting so reading done.
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? My first 3 books are A Deadly Education, The Stillwater Girls and The Midnight Library and I have been looking forward to them quite a bit.
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? I am participating in the team challenge.
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? In various places at home.
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! Potential low energy and sleepiness from medical treatment. But a read-a-thon is always a good way to be inspired to keep reading. I am already so impressed with how much reading has gotten done!

[Kendra]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Have fun. See if my team can get every prompt done.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I had a bunch of library holds come in last week, but I put them off so I could use them for the challenge: Sailor Moon Eternal Edition 3, A Stranger in Town, Inside Out & Back Again & Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I also want to finish The Dirty Streets of Heaven & Austenland which I've already started.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Both.

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home. We are currently having a cold snap with temperatures nearing - 40 Celsius, so I am NOT going outside. Plus there's some virus or something going around...😉😋

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
My grandmother is in the hospital. It's in another city, so there's nothing I can really do except worry, which could be a distraction. So far, the prognoses is excellent, but still.

[Jillian]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
To finish my audiobooks One by One by Ruth Ware, The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune and maybe an ebook Heartless by Marissa Meyer

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Yeah, I’m not reading them this week.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Team Rose

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home inside since we are expecting snow, last weekend it was beautiful out and I was able to read outside

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
Work, homeschooling my oldest and then my youngest has his first in person hybrid school day starting on Tuesday (I’m a bit concerned so it is making me irritable).

[Kristina]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Finish 4-5 books

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
I finished Legendborn, which I had started before the challenge. I plan to read Honey Girl, Love with a Chance of Drowning, The Girl with the Louding Voice, and These Ghosts Are Family during the read-a-thon.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
I'm participating in the team challenge (Team Orchid).

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home.

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
Just work, but I have President's Day off so hopefully that helps.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Finish at least 5 books. I finished one today and have some short books set aside.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? - I wanted to finish The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine, which I did today. I will be giving a talk on Elizabeth Blackwell in March. My other books will mostly be lighter reads, romance and mystery.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? I signed up to be a team captain for the first time (was co-captain before) - Go Tulips!!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
Couch or bed

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! - This week is pretty open and our temperatures and wind chill discourage outdoor activity. I am getting my first vaccine shot Tuesday but usually there are few effects from that one.

[Deborah]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
I want to finish at least 4 books but I am aiming for 6

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Yes, but they don't really fit into the challenge (I would really like to finish the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini) Don't worry, I will get around to it.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Team Challenge. Go Team Carnation!!

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
In my bedroom at home

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week?
Outside of a three day holiday weekend, I have to work the rest of the week. Also for mental health issues I need to set out time to workout. Therefore, after the three day holiday I will only have lunch hour a few hours before bed to read.

[Joan]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon? I'm hoping to complete the winter challenge.
2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish? I've been reading a lot of thriller books lately so I've been looking forward to them all.
3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges? I'm participating in the team challenge but I don't think I'm going to do the individual challenge.
4. Where will you be doing most of your reading? At home in my office
5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on! Work and having no power from the ice storm. On day 4 now but they say we'll get power back tonight.

[Rachel]

1. What are your goals for the read-a-thon?
Just read as much as possible, and ideally read at least one (preferably two!) books in the Curse So Dark and Lonely series.

2. Are there any books you're dying to start or finish?
Red, White & Royal Blue and the A Curse So Dark and Lonely series.

3. Are you participating in the team or individual challenges?
Both

4. Where will you be doing most of your reading?
At home

5. Is there anything that's going to stand in the way of your reading this week? Let us cheer you on!
I'm working only two days in-person and the other two days via Zoom, but I find I tend to slack off on my Zoom days afterwards and waste a ton of time watching random videos even when I want to read. I also have a vaccine info session Wednesday evening which is going to interfere with the time I normally get to read.