Read-a-Thon Feb 2022: Team Whisk

[Ira]

Hi team. My laptop collapsed yesterday, so my free time yesterday ended up trying to fix the problem. My reading suffered from this, and it is difficult to update the spreadsheet withou a pc. I finished reading The King of Koraha. I propably will end up buying a new laptop today.

[Joyce]

Much sympathy Ira. My laptop is 12 years old and gently shedding functions like many of us in old age. I don’t think it will be long but I don’t relish having to familiarise myself with a new one.

[Ira]

Yes it was gradually getting slower and slower till yesterday it wouldn't start. Mine was around 7 years old. It was just bad timing with the readathon and everything.

[L Y N N]

Joyce wrote: "I've finished Conundrum and entered it for circles. Feel free to move it Sue if you want to put The Vagrants there instead.

We are one prompt away from a mini roll!"
I'll slot Get a Life, Chloe Brown in there now! I finished it last night!

[L Y N N]

We have one Mini Roll! HUZZAH!! ✨🎇🎆👍🤗 I used Get a Life, Chloe Brown to fulfill the Mini Roll "red on cover" prompt. But it could be used to fulfill the Cannoli "sour" character prompt, if needed, and I could use So You Want to Talk About Race for the "red on cover" prompt, if needed. I should finish So You Want to Talk About Race tonight.

I used Granta 148: Summer Fiction for the Cannoli "new-to-you author" prompt but it could fit a couple of others if needed.

I'll read Back Bay to fulfill the Focaccio "500+ pages" prompt, and The Chase to fulfill the Cannoli "set in Italy" prompt. That should take me through Saturday and leave Sunday for a different book.

Way to go Team Whisk! Whoo! Whoo! 😁 We are "bookin' right along"! LOL

[L Y N N]

Kahlia wrote: "I've just started The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield which will count for multiple squares: long book, set in France, circles on cover, new to you author and p..."
Wow that is a long one! I hope it proves to be enjoyable for you. I just added it to my TBR listing. Looks intriguing!

[L Y N N]

Ira wrote: "Hi team. My laptop collapsed yesterday, so my free time yesterday ended up trying to fix the problem. My reading suffered from this, and it is difficult to update the spreadsheet withou a pc. I fin..."

Ugh. So sorry about that! 🙁 I guess the good news is that you can afford to replace it! 😁

[L Y N N]

Sue wrote: "Hi All, I had a look at what the other teams are doing to try and simplify the spreadsheet, and have moved the completed books to a new page. I hope I haven't mucked it up as I think someone was typing while I was! Please let me know if I have confused you.

We are very close to completing a couple of our recipes and have already earned 7 Sprinkles of Sprinkles - go team!"
Great!

"Has anyone actually attempted any of the real recipes yet? (they look a bit too complicated for me...)"
I had to laugh at this! Uhm...no time for baking when I'm reading! Though I realize many listen to audiobooks, allowing for such multi-tasking, but I'm not up to that!! I think I'm too old! LOL

[Joyce]

We have now also made madeleines! I just finished The Opposite of Maybe for the Madeleine/Maddie author prompt.

I'll read Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers next. Agatha is definitely a curmudgeon but it fills plenty of other spots too.

[Kahlia]

Lynn wrote: "Kahlia wrote: "I've just started The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield which will count for multiple squares: long book, set in France, circles on cover, new to y..."

I'm only about 20% in, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Though I really love historical fiction set in this time period...

[Jen K]

Good morning all! I finished Several People Are Typing. It was a quick read. I slotted it in for the food task since food is regularly discussed and the idea of food/ taste is important near the end.

@Sue, I would love to try the recipes though they are a bit intimidating. Maybe when I head back home. I love Jurgen and Lizzie from the the show.

@Joyce, nice work getting in a Madeleine!!

@Ira, hope you find a new computer that works well!

[L Y N N]

Kahlia wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Kahlia wrote: "I've just started The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield which will count for multiple squares: long book, set in France, circles on co...

I'm only about 20% in, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Though I really love historical fiction set in this time period..."
Good! Glad to know you are enjoying it!

[L Y N N]

Joyce wrote: "We have now also made madeleines! I just finished The Opposite of Maybe for the Madeleine/Maddie author prompt.

I'll read Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers next. Agatha is definitely a curmudgeon but it fills plenty of other spots too."
Oohhh...I have a copy of the first installment in the Agatha Raisin series on its way to me! I'm anxious to give it a try!

[L Y N N]

I wasn't in the mood for So You Want to Talk About Race last night, and I cooked, but I did get started on the 500+ page book, Back Bay. I knew nothing about this book other than the fact that I read the second installment in the Peter Fallon series, Harvard Yard about 15 years ago and loved it! Interestingly, it is set in the time of George Washington, John Adams, and John Hancock competing with each other, etc, as this new republic under its first President is established. I was reminded of the US as a "democratic experiment" that I hope perseveres beyond the current political and societal divisions...

Probably won't have much reading time today, but should have quite a bit Thursday evening...

How is the new kitchen coming, Caitlin? I'm still jealous! 😊

Do you have a replacement computer yet, Ira? Sure hope so! It seems we are all technologically dependent any more. I know I am!

[Sarah]

Hi guys, I've just checked into my hotel. I managed to read quite a lot on the train but I'm not sure how much I'll get in tomorrow

[Joyce]

I've finished Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers which I have entered for the 'sour' character. That means there is only the Italy ingedient needed to bake some cannolis.

I'm not sure what to cook next. I am starting Ghost Wall which covers lots of the prompts for mini rolls. Although they don't have the fewest ingredients, they feel relatively easy to me.

[Sue]

I have finally finished The Vagrants and I agree with Joyce that Mini Rolls seems the easiest to fill, so have coded this book as a book with a circle on the cover. I am struggling on with Salt: Selected Stories and Essays, so our Focaccia is getting closer to being baked. Both of these books have been heavy going, so am about to start on a short book set in Italy - My House in Umbria.

[Joyce]

Ghost Wall was a quick, intense read. I’ll definitely be reading more Sarah Moss. I’ve added it for wilderness location. Next I have A Little Piece of Ground which fits other mini roll ingredients.

[L Y N N]

Joyce wrote: "I've finished Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers which I have entered for the 'sour' character. That means there is only the Italy ingedient needed to bake some cannolis.

I'm not sure what to cook next. I am starting Ghost Wall which covers lots of the prompts for mini rolls. Although they don't have the fewest ingredients, they feel relatively easy to me."

I plan to read a book on Saturday that will fulfill the Italy prompt, or whatever is left at that time.

I totally agree that the Mini-Rolls seem to be the easiest "recipe"!

I can count So You Want to Talk About Race for the red on cover prompt or the 2022 ATY challenge prompt.

[L Y N N]

Joyce wrote: "Ghost Wall was a quick, intense read. I’ll definitely be reading more Sarah Moss. I’ve added it for wilderness location. Next I have [book:A Little Piece of Ground|6..."
I'm so glad you're on Team Whisk, Joyce! I am both impressed by and jealous of all the reading you do! 😊

[Joyce]

For the first time I have the right combo of little pressing work and a bunch of easy or short reads. I will probably bow out on Saturday though as most of Sunday has commitments.

I've finished A Little Piece of Ground and entered it as a short book but am not sure what to read next. It won't be until tomorrow, so I'm open to suggestions. I have a French book in mind and maybe another author called Maddie so could we manage another round of madeleines?

[Sue]

This morning I have finished both my audiobook and a short paperback, so we have now completed one of each recipe and are well on the way to our second mini roll. Hope you are all heading for a relaxing weekend, whether reading or busy with other pursuits. I will be helping my daughter and son-in-law move mulch in the heat (we have had a series of heatwaves this summer, so the 34C predicted for tomorrow almost seems cool according to my daughter!) - not really looking forward to that but I can't resist being with the grandbabies!

[Jen K]

You guys are amazing!!!

Sorry I haven't managed much this week with work. I only have an hour left on my audiobook and should finish tonight. I should be able to get another quick audiobook and I have a long-ish Italy book which I hope to finish this weekend. I can add them to the tracker to see where we might manage second pastries.

[Bec]

I finished my audio book today - do we just add the book in the second column now? It works for A book where food plays an important role The Second Chance Supper Club

[Ira]

I finished reading Fugitives by Alexander Gordon Smith.

[Joyce]

I'm assuming we are going to get a second mini roll anyway and, judging by other people's on-the-go books, it's looking like a second cannoli is the other maybe cake. So, I'll read The Ardent Swarm for its yellow cover next and look out for other suitable books when I'm at the library later.

We could do we just a touch of your warm here Sue where it's mid-morning and not above freezing yet.

[Joyce]

Actually, where were you thinking of putting Fugitives Ira? I can see that some additions of that have a yellow cover.

[Ira]

I don't know. We can put it under Yellow cover if there are not many options for it. I haven't had a chance to lokk at the spreadsheet yet.

[Sue]

I have fiddled with the spreadsheet again so you can see which prompts have already been filled for the second time - we are well on the way to a second Mini roll, and have started on the second cannoli. It's Friday night here now, so for me only two days to go. I will probably finish only one more book over the weekend, but might squeeze in a second...

[L Y N N]

As I read through the comments I am impressed with the great teamwork and spirit! YAY Team Whisk! I should definitely finished Back Bay which I originally selected for the 500+ pages prompt, but could easily fulfill either of the two remaining prompts for our second Mini Roll.

And I will buzz through The Chase which I was planning for a book set in Italy, but again, could count for many other prompts.

Both of those should be done on Saturday and I should be able to read a shorter book on Sunday. It'll be fun to see where we are on that last day with second recipes!

[Sarah]

I finished Circus Shoes today. It was sweet but not as good as Ballet Shoes. I don't know if I'll finish another book this weekend but I'll keep updating the pages

[Jen K]

I finished Love and added it for the ATY task (aged characters). Almost done with the second mini roll!

[Kate]

Lynn wrote: "I wasn't in the mood for So You Want to Talk About Race last night, and I cooked, but I did get started on the 500+ page book, Back Bay. I knew nothing about this book ..."

Kitchen is going good! We're expecting it to be functional early next week, completed within another 2. It's so exciting to see it coming to fruition. The old kitchen was built with the house in the 70s, so it's really livened up the entire area.

[Joyce]

Rather than start a second yellow-covered book I started Silas Marner. I think the woman in white is just about smiling .

[Kahlia]

How much of a book needs to be set in a country for it to count? The book I just finished was split more or less 50/50 between France and Italy, and I'm wondering whether that's enough.

I've put it in for now, but might shuffle if it's better suited elsewhere.

[Sue]

I have finished Death at Victoria Dock and coded it as next in a series. Our second mini roll is complete and we only need 3 more for our second cannoli!

[Joyce]

I've finished Silas Marnerand added it for a person smiling on the cover. She's more simpering than smiling but I don't think they went in for cheesy grins in the C19th.

I will start Amber Sands which is by another Madeline, just in case, and I think has a shell on the cover though it took a lot of zooming in on the ebook to find it. It will probably be my last book.

[Jen K]

Nice work! I should be able to finish my audiobook this afternoon after some work. It can fit new to me author for the cannoli or short book if we want to try for another mini rolls.

[Sue]

Well, I am into my final day, and have completed another short book, The Thirty-Nine Steps which has a circle on the cover, so have started yet another mini roll. I will start another book today but will definitely not finish it, and am also very unlikely to finish my latest audiobook, so will just count the pages & hours. Excited to see our final tally - I might just have to go to my local patisserie today to celebrate!

[Joyce]

It all looks mouth-wateringly great!

I have finished Amber Sands though I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've entered it as a written by a Madeline ingredient.

If Ira's is entered as a yellow cover we will have another cannoli. I wonder if we might bake another madeleine too?

I *might* manage something late tomorrow but no promises...

[Bec]

I finished The Extraordinary Fixer and put it for the newest book by an author I've read before, but it would also work for book reading for the challenge. Doesn't seem like it really matters at this stage though.

[Sarah]

I managed to finish The Last Graduate but it doesn't really fit anywhere useful in the challenge. That's me done for the week unless I can squeeze in some pages before bed.

[Jen K]

Finished The Story of the Lost Child and added for set in Italy. It's my night so other than a few pages, I'm done for the week.

Thanks all for a great readathon!

[L Y N N]

I was out of it Saturday due to the headache from hell, but managed to finish both of the books I had committed to reading!

[Joyce]

Much sympathy Lynn.

I fell asleep rather than finishing any more books. Overall I had, to misquote Dickens, the best of books and the worst of books. Thanks for the camaraderie everyone.

[Sarah]

Hope you're feeling better Lynn. It's been a fun week :)