Readathon Prep April 2022

[Kelley]

So are you excited about the Readathon next month? Have you started preparing or are you a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" participant? Either way tell us here all about what you are doing or will be doing to prepare. :-)

[Lena]

I'm definitely planning and prepping. I love the planning almost as much as the reading.

[Stephanie]

I haven't started planning yet. My TBR heavily depends on what I am able to finish before the readathon. The week before it starts I will borrow several graphic novels from my library. They're great for an eye break and I use them for the reading sprints. I might try to find some novellas or middle grade novels to help prevent burnouts too.

[Catsalive]

Whatever grabs me on the day.

[Michelle]

For sure planning out snacks, beverages and of course a tbr.

[Vanessa]

Catsalive wrote: "Whatever grabs me on the day."

Same . And usually continue reading the books that I have already started .

[Liander (The Towering Pile)]

I do my planning in the week or so before the read-a-thon. Earlier than that it's too hard to predict what I'll read before then! I always make a TBR pile (just a bit more than I can realistically finish) and stick to it.

My pile always looks pretty much the same. I like to alternate between typical novels and graphic novels, and while the graphic novels can be for any age, the novels are always middle grade or short YA stuff. Gotta work with my attention span!

[Jamie]

I am usually a bit of both. I might try to do a theme this year, like all crime novels or all books set in France, that sort of thing. Realistically though I'll wind up reading other stuff anyway, most likely.
I am hoping to be able to reserve the whole 24hrs just for the readathon at least, but there's a not terribly remote possibility I may have a job by then, one that actually pays money, that I'll have to be at for a couple hours in the morning. Not really the year for planning too far ahead, it seems.

[Reed]

I'm going to read my own books📚📚 for that but, does it matter what books📚📚 I read for leisure time⌚️ or for a readathon?

[Nadia]

I usually start planning it in the beginning of the month. I get way too excited! I start thinking about snacks and drinks, TBR and ways to keep me awake. I already started warning everyone around me that I won't be available the weekend of the readathon :D

[Leni]

I readathon with the family, so there's no seat-of-the-pants here. Organising is crucial (although less so as the kids get older). But we've taken part so many times now, and have established so many traditions, that we don't really need to plan - just prep. Fortunately the library is open again. A pre-readathon trip to the library to get books and graphic novels we aren't allowed to start until the readathon is part of our prep, and it didn't feel right without it.

[Ava]

Sorry I know this is off-topic but, what do you do for the URL part of the sign up?

[Trisha]

I always try to prepare the readathon, but end up with to much drinks and snacks and books I don’t read, because I read not much or something totally different.
This year my husband said to me: “You are going to just sit and read – and don’t worry about drinks and snacks. I will take care off that and I’ll take care off you.”
So this year I’m going to sit and wait to see what is going to happen.

[Mari]

I like to fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to what I'm reading but I will definitely plan out my snacks and beverages. My priorities are definitely clear! :-)

[Leni]

Ava wrote: "Sorry I know this is off-topic but, what do you do for the URL part of the sign up?"

I use the URL for the thread I have in the "for the Blogless" folder in this group. But you could also use the URL to your twitter account, or whatever.

[Jinjer]

I should, for once in my readathon life, plan and prep our meals and snacks so I’m not stuck with the last stale chips in a bag and the last dregs of an expired jar of salsa.

[Kelley]

I haven't started much prepping yet beyond ideas.

I'm already thinking about food ideas though have not started a list or anything concrete. However, it is usually either a crock pot fix it and forget it meal that ready whenever I am ready to eat, or delivery. For snacks I'll have a variety But I ALWAYS buy too much so this year I am going to try to control just how much snack food I buy so I don't end up throwing stuff away that I don't use before it goes bad.

I did actually pretty much focus on what my TBR for the readathon will look like this go round but I'll discuss that in the TBR thread. :-)

I already requested off for Friday and Saturday at my part time job so I can get to bed early Friday to be ready to go Saturday morning.

Next up I will start perusing the net for book journal ideas and discussion topics and trying to play with some of the tracker apps I've seen folks use on previous readathons to figure out which one I like best.

[Lynnette]

Trisha wrote: "I always try to prepare the readathon, but end up with to much drinks and snacks and books I don’t read, because I read not much or something totally different.
This year my husband said to me: “Y..."

That's lovely. Perhaps you'll rent your husband out for future readathons:-)

[Lynnette]

I'm going to try to prep by getting my reading journal set up in advance. Last time I was flying the plane while building it and it didn't work out so good. Since I'll be out of town for the actual readathon day and likely unable to fully participate having my journal ready to go will be a must.

[Ashley]

Started planning. Doing a 24 hour "drop in" with my friends at my house. Lots of snacks, candles, heated blankets, beverages (adult and non) and books for everyone. They can just drop in at any point in the 24 hours and read/eat. Leave when they need to. Its going to be awesome.

[Susy]

That really sounds awesome, Ashley!!

[K.L.]

I'm planning to do all of my meal prep the day before the readathon, just to make cooking move a little faster on the day. I will also get my reading nest set up in advance, with plenty of pillows and blankets. I'd like to go ahead and get my TBR stack set up now, but since I'm currently participating in another readathon (March Mystery Madness), I won't be able to do that until next month.

[Cynda]

I will keep food plentiful and simplified. Pizza slice(s) and cole slaw for meals. Potato chips and dip with green olives for savory snacks. Pumpkin smoothies with cinnamon and nutmeg for sweet treats.

[Kelly]

I usually plan a lot but this year I am just going to pull books of my personal shelves the day of. This way I knock out my extensive TBR but I can also mood read. I will plan food for that day. I usually make a veggie snack tray and put dinner in the crockpot.

[Natasha (Vasilly)]

I haven't started planning yet, but I will about two weeks before the event. That way, I can place books on hold and make sure I have an exciting stack ready to read. Also, it's nice to actually think about the meals and snacks I plan on eating instead of having to interrupt my reading to go out and buy food and snacks during the readathon.

[Vanessa]

Cynda wrote: "I will keep food plentiful and simplified. Pizza slice(s) and cole slaw for meals. Potato chips and dip with green olives for savory snacks. Pumpkin smoothies with cinnamon and nutmeg for sweet tre..."

Yum .

[Susan]

I like to read short books during the read-a-thon. When I come across short books that are appealing, I add them to my GR RAT shelf. Then I be sure to put them on hold at the library about a month before the RAT. My husband cooks so I don’t do any meal planning other then picking up a few snacks the day before.

[Nona]

This year it's going to be the start of my vacation week and I can't wait!

I do enjoy doing some planning.

I'll start ordering books and graphic novels from the library next week.

I track all my reading online, but for the Readathon I also like to print out a sheet for tracking everything that day. So I'll get that printed out and ready the week of.

For food I'll do: lots of fresh fruit, cut up in advance. Some raw cut veggies too. My favorite soup, which I'll make a day or two in advance, as well as some kind of cold salad like tabbouleh or a bean salad. Some nice fresh bread I'll either make myself or buy from a local bakery. Maybe some sparkling apple juice this year, just because it feels fancy and special occasion-y.

Someone earlier mentioned smoothies. I've never done them for a Readathon, but it's a great idea!

[Cathy]

Seat of my pants plus my already planned buddy reads and ongoing challenges…

[Cynda]

Changed my Food Plans.
Main Food will be Chicken Gumbo. No grains so to be thickened with okra and filé gumbo.

Crunchy Treat still potato chips and olives.

Sweet Treet a small bag of candy--or--tapioca. Depends on energy level as I like the stuff that gets cooked on stove. Picky. . .

[Nona]

Very busy week for me, so I haven't done as much prep as I'd wanted. That's okay because now I have the whole weekend clear, and I'm feeling relaxed and excited to get started!

I woke up early this morning and I'm setting up my main two reading areas (couch and bed) with freshly cleaned blankets..

I still need to print out my tracking sheet and maybe the Bingo card. I'll do that next.

[L Y N N]

I have a list of 6 books to read in May for various buddy reads, group reads, etc. I will probably plan to read 1-2 of those on April 30! Or I may just read a couple of shorter books for some of my year-long challenges. I certainly have no shortage of potential reading material, as usual!

Though my reading time will most likely be a bit shorter for the day since my favorite local used bookstore is having an Independent Bookstore Day celebration that same day! 🤗

[Katie Cat Books]

Where is the bingo card? Will there be instagram photo challenges this year?

I have library books reserved, a grocery list with items such as fresh veggies and am looking yorward to a relaxing weekend.

[Lamilla]

I participated in several laps of pre-readathong and I must admit it helped my reading a lot. I even managed to meet my modest goodreads goal and upped it a bit!

[Kathy]

I've only just arrived back from Easter week away and realised this is coming to me shortly. I have any number of books to read. But one I will definitely be reading
1. An unexpected light: travel in Afghanistan by Jason Elliot (this is one for my 'round the world reading'

Otherwise I have a couple of books that I have started to read on my Kindle which I'm going to finish off.

After that I am filled with choices.

[Vanessa]

Cynda wrote: "Changed my Food Plans.
Main Food will be Chicken Gumbo. No grains so to be thickened with okra and filé gumbo.

Crunchy Treat still potato chips and olives.

Sweet Treet a small bag of candy--or--t..."

Chicken Gumbo sounds delicious !
I was thinking of making a pot of chicken stew .

[Sandra (johnnylyserg)]

Do you guys use a pomodoro timer?

This is my first fully serious attempt on 24 hours and I can't quite figure out how to manage my reading sprints and breaks.
I imagine that one could easily get worn out without a proper schedule.

Any advise you would like to share?

[Canadian Dragon]

A Pomodoro timer sounds like a great idea, I just updated my phone with all the sprint times so far

[Cathy]

Had to google the meaning of pomodoro timer. Good idea. Do you use an app for that? And how do you set it for the 1-hour sprints?

I use a multi-timer app, where I track times for
- total reading time
- ebooks
- audiobooks
- graphic novels/comics
- paper
- social media

[Canadian Dragon]

I use an app for IOS called Tomato Timer

[Janae]

completed all my library runs yesterday, so I'm ready to go!

[Susy]

¸.•’❀°Sandra°❀‘•.¸ wrote: "Do you guys use a pomodoro timer?

This is my first fully serious attempt on 24 hours and I can't quite figure out how to manage my reading sprints and breaks.
I imagine that one could easily get..."

I have my own schedule with times and alarms set in my calendar on my phone.
I use multi timer to keep track of my reading time, breaks etc. I believe it has pomodoro option as well, though I don’t know how to use that. Keeping to my calendar with alarms lol