#Readathon October 2015: End of event

Another Read-a-thon completed, this one somewhat hampered by the fact that reading actual books, either in paper or e-book form, or spending too much time on a screen gives me a raging headache. Concussions suck, people. Thankfully, over the last few months, I've not really been buying a lot of audio books, instead hoarding my credits like nuggets of gold. That's come in handy now. I'm also more than halfway through the hooded scarf I'm knitting, because I need something to do with my hands when I'm listening.

End of event survey?

1) Which hour was most daunting for you?
Probably hour 6, when it became very clear that my head was having none of this reading business, and it became obvious that it was going to have to be an audio book sort of a Read-a-thon

2) Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged next year?
Carry On - Rainbow Rowell
Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
Nimona - Noelle Stevenson
Rat Queens, vol 1: Sass and Sorcery - Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch

3) What worked well and what could be improved?
I think it was all good. I liked the various mini-challenges and the activity on Twitter. I don't really see what could be better than what we've got already.

4) How many books did you read?
I completed five books, but two of them I was already most of the way through by the time Read-a-thon started.

5) What were the names of the books you read?
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, audio book narrated by Euan Morton
Joyland by Stephen King
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, audio book narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Maxwell Caulfield
Rat Queens, vol 1: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch

6) Which book did you enjoy most?
Possibly Rat Queens, volume 1 of the books I wasn't actually re-reading/listening to in audio book form. It was delightfully violent, foul-mouthed, action-packed and funny.

7) Which book did you enjoy least?
 There wasn't any book I didn't enjoy, I would rate all the books four stars or higher, but if I had to put one last, it would be Joyland by Stephen King, which I mainly read to fulfill a reading challenge.

8) How likely are you to participate in Read-a-thon again?
I will absolutely be doing Read-a-thon again in April, as long as my schedule allows it. Hopefully, I won't have a head injury that causes me pain while I read.

Pages read in total: 981
Hours read in total: approximately 11,5
Books completed: 5 (see above) 

#Readathon October 2015: Time for bed

Going into hour 15, I've decided to go to sleep for a while, with every intention of getting up in time to read for a few more hours tomorrow. The concussion is absolutely still in play, sadly, meaning that I'll most likely be audio-booking the rest of the Readathon, as I have been doing for the last six hours. I've also got a lot of knitting done, a big plus in the audiobook column.

Fangirl is one of my favourite books, and it's really fun comparing the various Simon Snow chapters having just read Carry On twice.

Pages read so far: 714
Currently reading/listening to: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Books completed: 3

#Readathon October 2015: The Ugly Cover Pitch mini challenge

Hour the sixth and I've been reading for a total of 2,6 hours, according to my awesome spreadsheet. I've found another fun mini challenge, hosted over on Shaina Reads, called The Ugly Cover pitch. Shaina asks that one pick a really good book with a really bad cover, and explain what greatness can be discovered if only the eyesore of a cover is overlooked. I knew immediately what series of books I wanted to pick, as pretty much all the covers in this great Steampunk fantasy romance series are atrocious. But it's always best to start at the beginning - here with Kiss of Steel. 

While the cover may lead the unsuspecting to assume that the book is about som sort of burlesque stripper stage magician, making her plucky way through the misty streets of London, followed around by a dandy in an anachronistically modern haircut, that's not really the case at all. They've put a cog next to the title, because it is Steampunk, after all. I had this book recommended to me both through Amazon and Goodreads, and I waited so long to pick it up. Even when I did give it a try, I wasn't expecting much.

Far from the adventures of a scantily clad Victorian Zatanna cosplayer, this is the story of a brave young gentlewoman, whose inventor father died, leaving her to care for her two younger siblings. Because I've now spent the best end of twenty minutes of this hour not reading, I'm going to cheat slightly and use my previous review to complete the pitch.

Pages read so far: 387
Currently reading: Need to figure out what I want to read next.
Books completed: 3 

#Readathon: Diversity Shelfie mini-challenge

Since my concussion is still making it harder for me to read a lot, I'm taking part in more mini-challenges instead. This one is called Diversity Shelfie, hosted over on An Unconventional Librarian. The point of the challenge is to take a photo of yourself with a book featuring diversity and explain why you love the book. I picked Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, because it features a range of diverse characters, including both gay and straight teens. It also depicts depression and mental illness in one of the better ways I've seen it dealt with in YA fiction, and last but not least, it features Tiny Cooper, one of the most delightful fictional characters I've met in years. I wanted to take a shelfie with Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, but I "only" own that in e-book and audio so far, and hence, can't photograph myself with it.

Pages read so far: 155
Currently reading: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Books finished: 2 (but I was almost finished with both before the Readathon began)
Carry On - Rainbow Rowell (audio book, narrated by Euan Morton)
Joyland - Stephen King

#Readathon October 2015: Cover Escape Mini-challenge

Over on the Unabridged Chick's blog there is a mini-challenge that I really liked the look of - cover escape. To find a book on my shelves with a cover I'd like to escape into. The minute I read the description, I knew which book to choose. I haven't actually read the book yet, it's one of the many on my oh so comprehensive TBR list, but it has such an inviting cover, and especially now that it's getting colder and darker here in Norway - I want to go to there.

I think the picture is meant to be southern Italy somewhere. It looks warm and inviting and I'd love to visit and swim in the beautiful, blue sea.

Pages read: 61
Currently reading: Joyland by Stephen King
Books completed: 1 - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (I only had the last 50 pages left)

#Readathon October 2015: Opening meme

1) What fine part are you reading from today?
Oslo, Norway

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
I haven't actually entirely decided what I'm going to try to read, as I'm still not sure how much reading I'll be able to do.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
I've made the same ham, cheese and scallion muffins that I always make for Read-a-thon.

4) Tell us a little about yourself!
I'm a teacher. I love reading. I review books to collect money for a cancer charity. Check out our group blog on Cannonball Read.

5) If you've participated in the last Read-a-thon, what's one thing you'll do different today?
Since I got a concussion on Monday, I may not be able to do as much reading as I'd like. I'm feeling a lot better and am going to try to do reading, in large font, on my e-reader, and maybe some graphic novels, but this may be a mostly audio book Read-a-thon for me.