Mervi's Book reviews

Mid-event survey:

1. What are you reading right now?
2. How many books have you read so far?
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
9. Are you getting tired yet?
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

1, I’m listening Rachel Caine’s Thin Air.
2, Finished? 0. Sampled: Thin Air, Traitors’ Gate, Story of Science, Unbound, and Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses: 4
3, Shadow Pavilion. In fact, I’m a bit afraid that I’ll want to abandon Traitors’ Gate for it.
4, Nope.
5, No.
6, How slowly I read, even though I knew that beforehand.
7, Make it a week! (Kidding )
8, As a reader I would choose shorter books. I might also host a mini-challenge.
9, It’s past 2AM here…
10, No. Keep up the good work!

Well, it’s just hour eight and I’m starting to wonder if I put myself a bit too large a challenge. I’ve read a quarter from the Story of Science, the Physics part, but only 82 pages of Traitors’ Gate and still haven’t tackles the short stories. But there’s plenty of time left. I guess I’ll take a break from reading and continue to listen Caine’s Thin Air while hunting for those elusive comics.

I’ve made good headway:

I’ve only read 17 pages from the Traitors’ Gate but I’ve read almost a quarter from the Story of Science, and I’ve also listened about an hour from Caine’s Thin Air.

Read-a-thon has started! The first host asked some questions:

1)Where are you reading from today?
2)Three random facts about me…
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

My answers:
1, Finland
2, Unlike lots of other readers, I don’t have any pets. I love audio books and I tend to prefer series over stand-alone books.
3, I chose 9 books: Kate Elliott’s Traitors’ Gate, The Story of Science: From Antiquity to Present by various authors, Unbound, an UF anthology with five authors, Diane Duane’s Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses, Zelazny’s Mask of Loki, Harrison’s A Fistful of Charms, and Williams’ Shadow Pavilion, and in audio Rachel Caine’s Thin Air and Grimwood’s the Fallen Blade.
4, Yes. I aim to read 200 pages from Traitors’ Gate, two short stories from the collection, finish Story of Science, and read a few chapters from the other books.
5, I’ve only participated once before so I don’t really think of myself as a veteran, but: have fun! Participate in the most fun mini-challenges.

It’s almost time to start the Read-a-thon!

My final pool of books will be:
Kate Elliott’s Traitors’ Gate. It’s over 800 pages so my goal is to finish 200 pages.
The Story of Science: From Antiquity to Present by various authors.
Unbound, an UF anthology with five authors. I aim to read two of the stories there by new to me authors.

I’ll also plan to read the first few chapters of
Diane Duane’s Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses, Zelazny’s Mask of Loki, Harrison’s A Fistful of Charms, and Williams’ Shadow Pavilion.

For audiobooks I’ll listen Rachel Caine’s Thin Air and Grimwood’s the Fallen Blade.

When my eyes get tired and I need a brake, I’m going to listen to an audiobook and try to find some comics from my pile of comics and books. If I find them (and I really need to find them soon) I’ll read them. The comics currently MIA are Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men’s Finnish editions that came out 2006.

Snacks have expanded just from pop-corn to Ruffles and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

I’d also like to participate on some hourly mini-challenges.