Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Archives
>
Feb24 Read-a-Thon: Wrap-Up
date
newest »
newest »
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?Technically, 3.5 but one of those was a book I started before the readathon and I always feel funny about counting those.
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
I didn't set any goals, but I typically like to read at least 3 books within the week so I definitely did that!
In terms of distractions, I got very thrown off by making a mistake right at the start. I somehow managed to start a day early thinking the readathon had already started. I'd joined my team a little late, saw the thread was open and people were posting, panicked I was late and rushed to post my progress. I didn't realize my mistake until halfway through the week when I tried to update my individual tracking and realized all my dates were wrong. Luckily, the mods allowed me to keep what I'd read so far and instead not count anything on Sunday to balance things out.
The other big issue I always have with every readathon is keeping up with the spreadsheet. I typically only check in right at the end of the day after I'm done reading, and I often finish quite late at night so I don't necessarily leave myself enough time to update the spreadsheet. I'm not great with spreadsheets in general so it's hard for me to remember to keep up, and I'm always a little hesitant to update anyway in case I'm somehow doing it wrong.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
I think A Twisted Love Story. I know a lot of people hate this one, but I had a good time with it. It probably helped that I went into it already knowing it was more of a suspense book than a true thriller.
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
Being more on top of my own timing so I don't confuse myself, lol!
I'd also love to have a bit more help with keeping up with the spreadsheet if possible, but I don't really know how much that can be done without putting too much work on other teammates. I always remember to update the thread, but rarely remember to use the spreadsheet. I'm just not sure what else could be done since I also don't want to pile more work onto teammates either.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Yes, because of my team being so supportive even with my mistake of the days! Other than that, I honestly didn't have a chance much to engage with the rest of the readathon as much as I usually do this time, which was unfortunate.
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read? 5 and 1680.2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions? I didn't set any goals, but I did have to work.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon? Got to give that to The Great Train Robbery
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons? I have no notes. This is only the second one I participated in and they worked to get me to read more while making it all that much more fun.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun?? Yes, definitely.
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?7 books, 1955 pages
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
Yes I did! I had two goals for myself, which were to read more than 6 books and to read at least one book per color.
I wouldn't say I experienced any major distractions, but my biggest obstacle was my poor choice of books this time around, with five of the seven being 2-star reads for me. I was surprised because three of these were by authors whose other books I've loved, which is normally a pretty safe bet. I think I had enough availability that I could have read at least 1-2 more books during this readathon if I were reading more enjoyable books.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
Definitely A Madness So Discreet, which I gave 4 stars. And while this isn't why I gave it 4 stars, I just want to mention that it's one of the only books (or maybe the only book) I've ever read to feature a close opposite-gender partnership that is completely platonic without relying on some kind of justification/excuse for being platonic (such as one or both being in a relationship, differing sexual orientations, big age gap, purposely not dating to avoid messing up their professional relationship, etc). The fact that both are young and conventionally attractive is a bonus because you really don't expect for these types of partnerships to stay completely platonic without even a mention or suggestion of them being attracted to each other. It just never comes up, and it was awesome to see that in a YA novel.
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
I'd love to see more readathons in general since I enjoy them so much, but I know that's probably not feasible given the amount of work it must take to set them up. Thanks so much to the mods for all the time and effort that goes into hosting readathons!
The only suggestion I have is to maybe group us without considering time zones so we can get a chance to be in groups with lots of different people? I don't think having similar time zones is a big deal at all, and I think it could also be potentially less work for the mods to group us together randomly. Assuming this is how groups are made - if it's not based on time zones then please disregard this comment!! xD
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Absolutely!!
Mod
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?I finished one book of poetry, 1919. In total, I had 179 pages read and 189 minutes listened (3.15 hours).
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
I just wanted to read more than I usually do, and I definitely did! My biggest barrier was fatigue, as usual. :/
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
I'm really liking Burying Water. A quarter of the way in and I haven't figured out anything!
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
Nothing I can think of!
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Yes!
1. I finished 9 books which is more than I planned. 2. I read more than I thought I would and managed 3 maim challenge prompts to get back on track.
3. Slow Horses by Mick Herron. It took me a little while to get into it but loved it by the end.
4. No they are great as is. As always a huge thank you to the mods for coming up with such an exciting theme and prompts. It's always so creative and different.
5. It was a fun week getting to meet some new members and discover some new books.
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?I finished 5 books (3 of which I had started before the Readathon), read 1450 pages and listened to 8.6 hours of audiobooks.
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
Yes—my goal was to finish 3 books and I did more than that (I think I would have finished even more if I chose shorter books).
My biggest distractions were work and my 4-year-old. Also, I decided to DNF two of my books so I probably would have finished more if I kept on reading those.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower was a quick, funny, and enjoyable read. I read it in less than a day and highly recommend it for the long title prompt (week 21).
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
I remember doing a readathon a few years ago where there were activities to do in addition to finishing books (such as read 100 pages in one sitting, read outside for an hour, play one of the readathon games, etc). I think it was in 2017 or 2018. Maybe consider adding something like that?
That being said, I really loved the Mardi Gras theme and the prompts.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Yes, absolutely!
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?I managed 15 books but 4 were too short for prompts.
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
I read everything I planned except A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking. Family needing surgery was the biggest distraction but everyone is all good.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
House of Flame and Shadow
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
I always have issues seeing post content after images are used when using the app. I have to use the desktop which is better anyway and I repost the link and prompts with just text so I can quickly check on the app. I don't know if others have this issue as well.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
I did. Thanks to the mods for all the effort!!
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?I read 12 books and 2,677 pages.
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
I did better than anticipated as I managed to finish the individual challenge. Obviously I wasn't distracted :)
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
A Trace of Smoke
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
Perhaps a clear explanation at the start of how the team challenge works. Otherwise, I enjoyed the theme and the prompts.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Yes.
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?13 books
3,723 pages
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
Ha! Ha! I NEVER meet my 'reading goals' because I set such ridiculously high and unattainable goals! LOL That's what comes of owning thousands of books! I literally had 2 stacks of books (about 40) that I had set aside as possible reads for this event.
My biggest distraction as usual was teaching and working out at the gym. Other than that I had a couple of IRL book club meetings and some appointments during the week. It was a busy week for this old woman! 😁
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
Ugh. I rarely can select just ONE favorite!
I adore L.M. Montgomery's writing, so Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest, the second and third installments in her Emily of New Moon trilogy are definitely up there. As is I'm Glad My Mom Died which was an excellent book for group discussion. And I definitely adore Elizabeth Acevedo's writing in The Poet X and With the Fire on High! (See what I mean about just "one"? LOL) And I enjoyed all the others as well!
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
I have no suggestions. You guys have this process down pat, IMO! These readathons are marvelous, IMO!
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Whoo! Whoo! Most definitely!
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?15 books for 3 967 pages. But that was 2 poetry collections, 6 graphic novels/mangas, 2 novellas, 1 trivia book and only 4 full length books.
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
I mostly met all my goals.
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
I also can't pick just one. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, To Woo and to Wed & Fence, Vol. 6: Redemption were all amazing.
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
No suggestions.
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Yep. Thankyou to the Mods for all the work you put into this.
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?5 books, 964 pages
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
Yes, by one book.
Work and two boisterous puppies (But I love 'em)
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
I'll think on it
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??
Absolutely!
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (other topics)To Woo and to Wed (other topics)
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 (other topics)
Fence, Vol. 6: Redemption (other topics)
The Poet X (other topics)
More...
1. How many books did you finish? How many pages did you read?
2. Did you meet your reading goals? What were your biggest distractions?
3. What was your favorite book of the read-a-thon?
4. Do you have any suggestions for how to make the read-a-thon better for next time? What would you like to see more of in future read-a-thons?
5. Most importantly, did you have fun??