Feb24 Read-a-Thon: Krewe of Endymion

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Laissez les bon temps rouler! It's Mardi Gras time!

This week, your Krewe is going to work together to collect beads for Mardi Gras. Each bead has a set of prompts that must be completed, as well as a required pendant that you can earn from reading and listening to books.

YOUR KREWE:
CAPTAIN: LYNN
CAPTAIN: Sophia
Jen K
Sherri
Shelby
Wendi
Kendra
Rachel

PURPLE
- Earn one pendant
- A book with purple on the cover
- A book in which a character gets justice
- A book written by an author whose first or last initial is found in NOLA
- A book that is "spicy"
- A book whose main character's name starts with a letter in MARDI GRAS

GREEN
- Earn one pendant
- A book with green on the cover
- A book set in (or written in) the 18th century
- A book whose cover shows a source of light
- A book where the outdoors plays a significant role
- A book featuring a character who is overcoming a life or death struggle

GOLD
- Earn one pendant
- A book with gold on the cover
- A book set in France
- A book featuring a king or queen
- A book featuring someone who wins at something
- A book with a family drama

PINK
- Earn one pendant
- A book with pink on the cover
- A book that includes a dance or ball
- A book where someone goes to a hotel
- A book in which a character plays a musical instrument
- A love story

SILVER
- Earn one pendant
- A book with silver on the cover
- A book related to mythology
- A book whose cover has someone wearing jewelry
- A book in which a character cooks a meal
- A book with a character whose name starts with a letter in SILVER

BLACK
- Earn one pendant
- A book with black on the cover
- A book that has a food item on the cover
- A book where alcohol is featured
- A book whose main character breaks a law
- A book whose title begins with a letter in BLACK

BLUE
- Earn one pendant
- A book with blue on the cover
- A book set in the southern US
- A book where someone travels to another state/country
- A book with a body of water on cover
- A book whose author has a first or last name starting with a letter in BLUE

Your Team's Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
To learn more about Mardi Gras krewes, check out this page on the New Orleans krewes: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/p...

[L Y N N]

Welcome, welcome, welcome, one and all to the Krewe of Endymion! 🎇🎊🎉🎆

A "krewe" is a term from the U.S. for an organization or association that stages a parade or other event for a carnival celebration. Krewes are associated especially with Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Yes, I googled it! LOL I do not like being ignorant of a word's meaning! 😉

If you haven't checked out the link about our specific Krewe, here it is: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/p...

I admit to having never really been "into" mythology, but after skimming the Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endymio...
I decided there are evidently many different Endymions!

Have any of you ever been to Mardi Gras? If so, what was your favorite thing? And if not, what would you most like to experience while there?

I have not and venture to wager I will never do so now. I'm almost 68 years old and am bionic (titanium "sports model" knees). I am currently not overly fond of crowds... But if I were young and in good health, hell yeah! I'd be there! At least once in my life. 😁 Though for me the main attraction would be jazz music! I have always adored jazz music! I don't drink alcoholic beverages, so that wouldn't be an attraction for me now...but it would have been in my younger years!! (Probably to my detriment!)

I always maintain a Word document for each challenge/readathon and I have made a list of books I "must read" during this readathon (for book clubs, buddy reads, and an author event) and am now trying to match each of those to applicable prompts.

I love to make reading plans and I think that is one of my favorite parts of a readathon! Now, to that spreadsheet!

Raising my glass to the Krewe of Endymion! It's a mixture of pineapple-coconut and mango juices!! Mm-mmmm...good! 🥂

Just one final comment, please do NOT hesitate to ask questions! I'm sure there will be some that arise as we progress through the challenge! Just post them here and I'm sure some knowledgeable soul will reply!

[L Y N N]

I have asked for clarification in the FAQ thread for these 2 questions:

1) With regard to the PURPLE prompt:
A book whose main character's name starts with a letter in MARDI GRAS
Does this refer to only the MCs FIRST name? Or can we use the first letter of their surname/last name?

2) With regard to the SILVER prompt:
A book with a character whose name starts with a letter in SILVER
Are we to only use the first letter in the character's FIRST name? Or can we use the first letter of their surname/last name?

I'll post as soon as I have a response from the mods!

[Kendra]

Hey Team Endymion.

I have a giant stack of books from the library (seriously, it's over 20) and while I won't get to all of them, I'm looking forward to this week. I'm coming off a stressful couple of weeks so taking time to just read will be nice.

L Y N N wrote: "Have any of you ever been to Mardi Gras? If so, what was your favorite thing? And if not, what would you most like to experience while there?"

No, we have Pancake Tuesday here instead. And if I'm being honest, I don't think it would be my scene. I'd rather go some other time of the year just to try the food and maybe see some of the museums.

But I will also raise my glass to the Krewe of Endymion! Just plain Coke Zero tonight.

[Wendi]

Hello! I have 14 books checked out on Libby. I hope a few will meet the required categories!

I have never been to Mardi Gras, or even to New Orleans. But I hope to someday!

[Sophia]

Hi team! I feel like I should be making cake to celebrate this readathon (or I just want to eat cake, which is....all the time.) I haven't made it to a proper Mardi Gras either even though I live only one state over in Texas, but my excuse is that everything is far away when you live in Texas.

As always if you're having any spreadsheet issues/questions please let us know!

[Jen K]

Hey Team, it's been a crazy week and excited for the weekend!

I've never been to Mardi Gras and starting to feel like I'm past my prime enjoyment of that sort of celebration but I would love to see the parades.

I overdid big book borrow and need to finish those off but hope get some good reading done.

[Sherri]

Hi Everyone, I'm very excited to start the read-a-thon Saturday. I'm currently reading Babel & listening to The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. I put both on the spreadsheet. My goal is to finish the audio book on Saturday.
I've seen King Cake but have never eaten it. I've never been to Mardi Gras even though my Aunt & Uncle lived in Baton Rouge forever. My parents used to go. My sister lives in Pensacola Fl & they have Mardi Gras there too.

[Shelby]

Hello Team!! :) The past few weeks have been very busy with work and travel, so I'm looking forward to (hopefully) getting some good reading time in for this read-a-thon!

I've never been to Mardi Gras. I think it would be fun to explore and learn more about the traditions. However, I think I'd rather visit New Orleans at a different time of the year to avoid getting overwhelmed by the crowds.

[Rachel]

I was out for most of the day today, but somehow still ended up reading 150 pages of Exes and O's. I started it before the read-a-thon, but had well over 100 pages remaining. Planning to finish it off tomorrow!

[L Y N N]

Great to see everybody checking in!! I've stayed up way later than intended...reading, of course! You know...just one more chapter...

That means I'll get a bit of a late start tomorrow morning.

[L Y N N]

L Y N N wrote: "I have asked for clarification in the FAQ thread for these 2 questions:

1) With regard to the PURPLE prompt:
A book whose main character's name starts with a letter in MARDI GRAS
Does this refer to only the MCs FIRST name? Or can we use the first letter of their surname/last name?

2) With regard to the SILVER prompt:
A book with a character whose name starts with a letter in SILVER
Are we to only use the first letter in the character's FIRST name? Or can we use the first letter of their surname/last name?

I'll post as soon as I have a response from the mods!

**We can use either the first or last name for these two prompts. They were purposefully left vague for that reason!**

That may help!!

[Sherri]

Good Morning Everyone, Happy first day of read-a-thon. I'm concentrating on finishing The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family this afternoon. Good luck everyone.

[Kendra]

Good Morning. I've already finished my first book - but it was a poetry collection that's too short to use for the prompts. It did add to my page count which helps for the pendants. It was Blood by Tyler Pennock.

[Wendi]

Hello! I'm listening to an audiobook this afternoon because I'm cooking for Chinese New Year, which doesn't fit any prompts, but can add to our pendant. After that I hope to read some of They Never Learn.

[L Y N N]

Wow! Great progress on the first day! Way to go! 👏👏👏👏

I finished 10th Anniversary which I didn't actually intend to read, but obtained a copy yesterday and couldn't help myself! LOL I added it to the COMPLETED sheet and highlighted the prompt I used it to fulfill on both the planning and completion sheets. That way, we don't have to look too hard to know which prompts are still open!

In addition, I moved the column for 10th Anniversary to the COMPLETED sheet, but left all the possible prompts marked for which it could be used. (I simply "copy" the column, add it to the COMPLETED sheet and then delete the column from the PLANNING sheet. That way I won't inadvertently lose the column when trying to move it!) By retaining the prompts a book "could" be used to fulfill, we will have the information if needed to help juggle some books to other prompts. I'm hoping we won't need to do that! 😉

I also remembered to list it on the SILVER sheet and highlight there as well. (I have been known to forget to do that in the past! LOL)

Whew! Now to finish Emily Climbs! I do love to read and am so glad to share that passion with you-all!!

[Jen K]

Wow Kendra, impressive reading!

I didn't do all that the well today. I'm in Jamaica for work so I visited the Bob Marley museum which was AMAZING! and then worked the rest of the day. I'm turning in early though to try to get some pages done before I fall asleep.

@Lynn, I love the Emily books! Maybe even more so than Anne.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

[Sophia]

Somehow I keep accidentally scheduling social things on the starting weekends of readathons so no good numbers from me today but I should finish Tress of the Emerald Sea tonight or tomorrow.

[Wendi]

I finished They Never Learn, and I think I updated everything on the spreadsheet, fingers crossed. I hope to finish my audiobook, too, so I can add pages and hours listened toward the pendant.

[Kendra]

Well, I finished The Goodbye Cat and I used it for the pink cover prompt. It made me tear up a bit, but I didn't cry like I did with The Travelling Cat Chronicles. Doesn't mean the one was better than the other, just that this one wasn't as sad.

[Shelby]

Good job guys! Today was busier than I thought it would be, so I didn't get as many pages as I had hoped. I'll keep reading as much as I can each day.

[Rachel]

I was out again for most of the day today, so didn't have much time to read. Luckily, I just finished Exes and O's (63 pages read today), but it is currently 2 am so I'll have to figure out where it fits tomorrow. If anyone sees a good place for it on the spreadsheet in the meantime, please feel free to put it in!

[Sherri]

Good Morning Team Endymion. I have 5 hours 40 minutes left on The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. I hope to finish it today. You all did great yesterday.

[Wendi]

Quick question, should I delete books I've read from the plans tab once they're completed?

[Sophia]

Yes, please delete finished books from the plans tab! We usually use color to indicate on the plans tab that a prompt is currently filled so people can easily see what we’re still missing.

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "Wow Kendra, impressive reading!

I didn't do all that the well today. I'm in Jamaica for work so I visited the Bob Marley museum which was AMAZING! and then worked the rest of the day. I'm turning ..."
Okay. I am REALLY trying not to be too jealous of your location! Jamaica! Wow! That's so cool! The Marley museum sounds great! I am anxious to see the upcoming movie about his life, since I know virtually nothing about him...other than listening to his music.

Yep! I am enjoying the Emily books moreso than I did the Anne of Green Gables books. But I've read both series as an older adult, so perhaps if I had read them as a youngster, the more intended audience, my reaction might have been different at that time of life? I don't know. Just know I enjoy the hell out of Montgomery's writing!

[L Y N N]

Sophia wrote: "Somehow I keep accidentally scheduling social things on the starting weekends of readathons so no good numbers from me today but I should finish Tress of the Emerald Sea tonight or ..."
You make me laugh! I guess there IS more to life than reading and readathons... LOL 😁👍

Wow. I was totally clueless about the Cosmere series! I love Sanderson's Skyward series, but now I'm thinking I need to try this one as well!

[L Y N N]

Wendi wrote: "Quick question, should I delete books I've read from the plans tab once they're completed?"
Yes, please! Once you have that column transferred to the COMPLETED sheet, I think it makes sense to simply delete it from the PLANNING sheet.

[L Y N N]

Kendra wrote: "Well, I finished The Goodbye Cat and I used it for the pink cover prompt. It made me tear up a bit, but I didn't cry like I did with The Travelling Cat Chronicles. ..."
Oh, my! How did I miss that this book was out there! I LOVED TTCC! Will definitely have to get a copy of TGC!!

[L Y N N]

Shelby wrote: "Good job guys! Today was busier than I thought it would be, so I didn't get as many pages as I had hoped. I'll keep reading as much as I can each day."
And that, m'dear, is all that can be done or expected of us!! If only we didn't have to sleep! LOL Whatever we can do is what we can do!

[L Y N N]

Rachel wrote: "I was out again for most of the day today, so didn't have much time to read. Luckily, I just finished Exes and O's (63 pages read today), but it is currently 2 am so I'll have to fi..."
I don't see this listed on the PLANNING sheet. You'll need to list it there and then mark any/all prompts it could be used to fulfill. I've never read it, so I would be clueless trying to guess how it could be used... 🤔

[L Y N N]

Sherri wrote: "Good Morning Team Endymion. I have 5 hours 40 minutes left on The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. I hope to finish it today. You all did great yesterday."
I have read part of this book and really need and want to get back to it. I find it fascinating!

[L Y N N]

Sophia wrote: "Yes, please delete finished books from the plans tab! We usually use color to indicate on the plans tab that a prompt is currently filled so people can easily see what we’re still missing."
Lesson learned, before replying, I need to check that someone else hasn't answered a question! Thanks, Sophia!

[Kendra]

L Y N N wrote: "How did I miss that this book was out there! I LOVED TTCC! Will definitely have to get a copy of TGC!!"

The English translation was only published last October, so it's still fairly new.

[Jen K]

L Y N N wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Wow Kendra, impressive reading!

I didn't do all that the well today. I'm in Jamaica for work so I visited the Bob Marley museum which was AMAZING! and then worked the rest of the day..."

Also very excited for the film! The 6th was Bob's birthday and the minister of culture put on a reggae concert in the park across from hotel so I saw some snippets. I can't wait!

I read both as child multiple times and have always preferred Emily, maybe because she was more introverted.

[Shelby]

@Jen K What a fun experience! It sounds like you are having a great work trip.

I didn't finish any books today. I've been switching between 2 books, but I might try to focus on one at a time because I'm determined to complete a prompt soon. I'm hoping for a calm week at work so I have the energy to read lots when I get home each day. Fingers crossed!

[Sophia]

L Y N N wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Yes, please delete finished books from the plans tab! We usually use color to indicate on the plans tab that a prompt is currently filled so people can easily see what we’re still mi..."

🫡 no worries, captain!

I did finish Tress of the Emerald Sea and I've put it under green cover, and I'll start The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport or The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks next. Also a reminder that books need to have 100 pages left by the start of the readathon to count (or 200 pages if it's a comic/graphic novel.) But even if the book doesn't count, more pages are always good because we always need pendants!

[Jen K]

Thanks Shelby, it is nice to have a break from the work!

Finished Under the Udala Trees and also added under green.

Picking up All the Sinners Bleed next. Will be another busy week but hear it is a hard one to put down.

[Rachel]

101 pages read of A Twisted Love Story today!

[Kendra]

I finished 2 books - The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition, Book Four (which I used for jewlery on the cover, & Royal Trivia: Your Guide to the Modern British Royal Family (which I used for featuring a King or Queen)

[Sherri]

Good Morning Team Krewe Endmion. I've said this every morning but I really will finish The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family this afternoon. I have one hour and forty minutes left. I tried hard yesterday but couldn't keep my eyes open.

[L Y N N]

Kendra wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "How did I miss that this book was out there! I LOVED TTCC! Will definitely have to get a copy of TGC!!"

The English translation was only published last October, so it's still fairl..."
That explains it. I read TTCC in 2022! I'm so grateful you mentioned it here!!

[L Y N N]

Jen K wrote: "L Y N N wrote: "Jen K wrote: "Wow Kendra, impressive reading!

I didn't do all that the well today. I'm in Jamaica for work so I visited the Bob Marley museum which was AMAZING! and then worked the rest of the day..."

Also very excited for the film! The 6th was Bob's birthday and the minister of culture put on a reggae concert in the park across from hotel so I saw some snippets. I can't wait!

I read both as child multiple times and have always preferred Emily, maybe because she was more introverted."
Perhaps. Interestingly, she was copying out her diaries for publication at the same time that she wrote the Emily trilogy, so the character of Emily is somewhat autobiographical. I wonder if that is at least part of the reason why I definitely felt much more connected to Emily than I did to Anne? Anyway, I loved these books!

[L Y N N]

Shelby wrote: "@Jen K What a fun experience! It sounds like you are having a great work trip.

I didn't finish any books today. I've been switching between 2 books, but I might try to focus on one at a time becau..."
I am no longer working full time, but I do remember how that was when I was participating in a readathon! Fingers crossed for a good week for you!

[L Y N N]

Sherri wrote: "Good Morning Team Krewe Endmion. I've said this every morning but I really will finish The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family this afternoon. I have one hour and forty minut..."
LOL I hear ya! I was the same way very early this morning (2:24AM), though I wasn't listening, I was trying to hold the book up! 😁

[L Y N N]

I finished Emily's Quest and fulfilled the SILVER cooked a meal prompt with it. I used I'm Glad My Mom Died for the BLUE set in the southern U.S. prompt. It totally fit the family drama prompt, but I'm trying to fulfill prompts for which we have fewer options first... (That woman was very unstable emotionally! Yikes! Though she did share some personality characteristics with my own mother...)

We are closest to completing SILVER, lacking only the mythology and character's name starting with a letter in SILVER (can be either first or last name/surname).

PURPLE--1 prompt fulfilled
GREEN--2 prompts fulfilled
GOLD--2 prompts fulfilled
PINK--2 prompts fulfilled
BLACK--NONE
BLUE--2 prompts fulfilled

AND...we already have 3 pendants completed!! Whoo! Whoo!

I went a little crazy with the highlighting! It looked as if some of you had started highlighting within the color of each bead, so I took that a bit further. I think it will be fine until we begin our second round on beads, if we are able to get that far. We can decide if/when that happens!

I won't get much reading done today since I teach and workout this evening and have a doctor's appointment, but I'll do what I can! That is all we can do! 👍😋 And so far, we re doing great!!

[Sherri]

Hi Everyone, I finally finished The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. I put it under green- set in (or written in) the 18th century. The book is set in mid 1700-1826. It's also set in France. While in France Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings lived in Hotel de Landron then Hotel de Langeac. The book works for any of those prompts.

[Jen K]

Sounds like busy days for everyone. I finished my audiobook and started another.

[Sophia]

Same, although if we get low on pendants towards the end of the week I will succumb to childish pettiness and just burn through a bunch of manga that I have in my backlog...

[Rachel]

Another 101 pages of A Twisted Love Story today!

Did my best to go back and fill in my books on the planning tab (although TBH, most of the prompts I picked are cover prompts so far... I may have to dig back into the last book a bit to see if anything else fits, but it should give more than enough to find a place for it to start).